Partition Chromatography

What is Partition Chromatography?

Partition Chromatography technique is defined as

the separation of components between two liquid phases viz original solvent and the film of solvent used in the column.

This separation theory was introduced in the year 1940s which was published by Richard Laurence Millington Synge and Archer Martin. It is also known as Liquid-liquid chromatography (LLC). Or if gas is the mobile phase it is called Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC).

Principle of Chromatography

  • Chromatography is a separation method where the analyte is contained within a liquid or gaseous mobile phase, which is pumped through a stationary phase.
  • Usually, one phase is hydrophilic and the other lipophilic. The components of the analyte interact differently with these two phases.
  • Depending on the polarity they spend more or less time interacting with the stationary phase and are thus retarded to a greater or lesser extent.
  • This leads to the separation of the different components present in the sample.

Partition Chromatography Principle

The separation of the components from the sample mixture is carried out by the process of partition of the components between 2 phases. Both phases are in liquid form. In this process, the immiscible solid surface coated with the liquid surface on the stationary phase is in the mobile phase. The liquid surface is immobilized by a stationary phase which results in making its a stationary phase. The mobile phase moves from the stationary phase and components get separated. The separation depends on different partition coefficient.

Partition Chromatography Diagram

Diagram of paper chromatography

Partition Chromatography Procedure

Below we have explained the procedure to conduct Paper Chromatography Experiment for easy understanding

Apparatus required – chromatography jar, liquid impregnated paper (stationary phase), capillary tube (to apply sample mixture), mobile phase (example chloroform, methanol, acetone, ethanol).

  1. Take a clean and dry chromatography jar.
  2. To make sure that the environment of the jar is saturated with solvent vapors, a paper impregnated in mobile phase is set to the walls.
  3. Add mobile phase to the jar. Around 0.5 cm to 1 cm from the bottom of the jar.
  4. Close the jar.
  5. Allow attaining equilibrium.
  6. Mark the baseline on adsorbent.
  7. Apply sample to the paper with the help of capillary tube.
  8. Air-dry the sample spot.
  9. Place the paper in the jar and close it.
  10. Allow the system to stand till the solvent moves to some distance from the baseline.
  11. Take out the paper and dry it.
  12. If the sample components are separated showing colors then dry it in ordinary light. If it is a colorless component then dry it in UV lamp.
  13. Store the chromatogram
  14. Calculate Rf value.

Partition Chromatography Applications

There are various applications of Paper Chromatography. Some of the applications are mentioned below:

  • To separate and identify amino acids.
  • To separate and identify tannins.
  • To separate and identify alkaloids.
  • To separate and identify carbohydrates.
  • To separate and identify glycosides.

Types of Partition Chromatography

  1. Liquid-liquid Chromatography – It is a chromatography technique where a sheet of blotting paper, is used instead of adsorption column. The components are separated based on their differential migratory velocities. On separating they are stained to make the chromatogram visible.
  2. Gas-liquid Chromatography – A chromatography technique in which the separation of the mixture is done by an inert gas along a tube. The tube is filled with finely divided inert solid. The solid is coated with a nonvolatile oil. The migration of each component occurs at a rate determined by its solubility in oil as well as its vapor pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is chromatography used?

Chromatography is used in industrial processes to purify chemicals, test trace quantities of substances, separate chiral compounds and quality control test products. Chromatography is the physical process of separating or analyzing complex mixtures.

What is the Rf value?

The Rf value is defined as the ratio of the distance moved by the solvent (i.e. the coloring or pigment being tested) and the distance moved by the solvent (known as the Solvent front) along the paper, where both distances are measured from the common origin or application baseline.

Who is the father of chromatography?

The Italian-born Russian botanist, Mikhail Semyonovich Tswett (1872-1919), is considered to be the Father of Chromatography.

What is the main purpose of chromatography?

Preparative chromatography is intended to isolate the components of a mixture for subsequent use and is, therefore, a method of purification. Analytical chromatography is usually done with smaller amounts of material and is intended to determine the presence of the relative proportions of analytes in a mixture.

What are the advantages of chromatography?

Using chromatography, precise separation, analysis, and purification is possible. It works on a variety of samples including drugs, food particles, plastics, pesticides, samples of air and water, and extracts of tissue.

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