Separation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons Using 2-Dimensional Thin-Layer Chromatography. An Environmental Chemistry Experiment

Geoffrey T. Crisp and Natalie M. Williamson
Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, AUSTRALIA
J. Chem. Educ., 1999, 76 (12), p 1691
DOI: 10.1021/ed076p1691
Publication Date (Web): December 1, 1999
History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

An experiment for an undergraduate environmental chemistry course is described. Students are given a soil sample from which they extract two (previously added) polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using a Soxhlet apparatus. They determine the identity of the unknown PAHs by comparing the 2-dimensional thin-layer chromatograms of the soil sample extract and a standard solution, both of which they must run themselves. Definitive identification is given by Rf values and fluorescence colors (under 254-nm UV light). The experiment is suitable to be performed by large classes (ca. 30 students) and is, on average, completed in three hours.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Environmental Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Aromatic Compounds
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  • Received: August 03, 2009

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