Thin Layer Chromatography
Thin Layer Chromatography also called TLC Chromatography is used to separate non-volatile liquids using a thin stationary phase. As shown in the image above, the thin-layer chromatography (TLC) procedure uses a glass plate coated with a very thin layer of an adsorbent, such as silica gel or alumina, to separate the mixture of chemicals into its constituent parts.
Chrome Plate is the name of the plate used in this technique. A small area of the mixture’s solution is put 2 cm above one end of the plate to begin the separation process. The plate is then placed in a sealed container filled with an eluting fluid, which rises up the plate while lifting various mixture ingredients to various heights. The heights to which components rise are called spots which appear separately in a vertical arrangement. Each spot is characterized by a factor called as Retention Factor which is given by the formula mentioned below:
Retention Factor(Rf) = Distance Travelled By Sample/Distance Travelled by Solvent
Learn More, Retention Factor
Chromatography
Chromatography is the separation of mixtures by distribution between two or more immiscible phases. In chemical laboratories, where it is used for analysis, isolation, and purification, chromatography is the most used separation technique. It is also frequently used in the chemical process industry as a part of small and large-scale production.
There are many types of Chromatography, e.g. Adsorption Chromatography, Thin Layer Chromatography, Column Chromatography, Partition Chromatography, etc. Paper Chromatography is an example of Partition Chromatography. Let’s learn more about Chromatography, its meaning, principle, types, and applications along with FAQs on them, in this article!