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Digitally Enhanced Thin-Layer Chromatography: An Inexpensive, New Technique for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

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Amber Victoria Irish Hess

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139-4310

J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (5), p 842

DOI: 10.1021/ed084p842

Publication Date (Web): May 1, 2007

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a widely used method for qualitative analysis to determine the number of components in a mixture, to determine the identity of two substances, or to monitor the progress of a reaction. The more accurate high-performance TLC (HPTLC) is better suited for quantitative analysis. Unfortunately, HPTLC requires expensive equipment that most high schools and colleges cannot afford. If digital photography is combined with regular TLC, it can perform highly improved qualitative analysis as well as make accurate quantitative analysis possible. This novel, digitally enhanced TLC (DE-TLC) is easy to use. A fluorescent TLC plate is illuminated with UV light and a picture of the plate is taken with a digital camera. Then, on a computer, using either TLC Analyzer, the public domain software written for this work, or common photo-editing software, one can quickly produce multi-spectral scans, densitograms, and calibration curves—output previously available only from more expensive equipment or complex procedures. Digitally enhanced TLC is a valuable tool that can be added to every chemist's TLC toolbox. Since this technique is less expensive than other quantitative chromatographic methods, DE-TLC is ideal for high school and college labs.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Analytical Chemistry

Keywords (Feature):

Topics in Chemical Instrumentation

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Computer-Based Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Laboratory Equipment / Apparatus

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