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Topic: Re: I don't understand TLC  (Read 2276 times)

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Offline Jaysai

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Re: I don't understand TLC
« on: February 23, 2013, 03:08:30 AM »
My compound is dissolved in chloroform and i wanted to check for any other contamination present . What type of solvent system can be used for it? since my compound of interest is amphilic in nature. Once i ran the TLC and used the chloroform: methanol (2:1) , (2:0.5) nd only chloroform but in all three the compound is moving with the solvent front. and no other contaminants i saw. Is it correct to move with the solvent front ? or I have to check with any other solvent mixtures? if yes, wat type of solvents i can use to get it separated easily

{MOD Edit: Topic split}
« Last Edit: February 23, 2013, 07:05:35 AM by Arkcon »

Offline Dan

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Re: Re: I don't understand TLC
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2013, 05:54:01 AM »
Once i ran the TLC and used the chloroform: methanol (2:1) , (2:0.5) nd only chloroform but in all three the compound is moving with the solvent front.

If the components are moving too fast, you need to reduce the polarity of the eluent.*

Common eluent combinations are:

Ethyl acetate/hydrocarbon**
Diethyl ether/hydrocarbon
Acetone/hydrocarbon

You will just have to experiment with some combinations and see what works. There are other combinations that may be better, but there is too little information to suggest anything more specific than trying the usual eluents first.

*I assume your stationary phase is silica.
**Hydrocarbon is usually a petroleum ether fraction, hexane, cyclohexane or heptane.
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Offline Jaysai

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Re: Re: I don't understand TLC
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2013, 06:19:14 AM »
Sir, I am using silica as stationary phase only . I have a doubt that Acetone is also polar or not then how it will decrease the polarity

Offline Dan

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Re: Re: I don't understand TLC
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2013, 06:34:40 AM »
I have a doubt that Acetone is also polar or not then how it will decrease the polarity

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.

Acetone is less polar than methanol, and hexane is less polar than chloroform.

2:1 hexane/acetone is much less polar than 2:1 chloroform/methanol.

Your compound will not travel as far on the plate if you elute with 2:1 hexane/acetone compared to 2:1 chloroform/methanol.
My research: Google Scholar and Researchgate

Offline Jaysai

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Re: Re: I don't understand TLC
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2013, 06:38:36 AM »
So it is correct that the compound should not move with the solvent front it should have some Rf values between 0.3 and 0.5 etc.

Offline Jaysai

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Re: Re: I don't understand TLC
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2013, 06:42:40 AM »
Thank you for your valuable suggestions

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