We’ve all worried about what tests to take in our high school chemistry classes. Even so, you should know that it’s not all memorization. You can take home with you a lot of helpful information.
In chemistry, you can test properties using different methods. This is true whether you’re in a high school chemistry classroom, working on a college project, or doing research at a university.
In this case, we’re talking about chromatography. What is chromatography, you ask? Simply put, chromatography is an analytical test method.
Are you interested in learning more about this topic? Then read on! We’ll break down the main types of chromatography for you in this article.
Paper Chromatography
Paper chromatography is one of the main types of chromatography. It involves passing a sample mixture over a thin filter paper. As the combination is moved over the paper, the components separate due to their different affinities for the form and the solvent.
They form distinct bands that can be visualized using dyes, pigments, or UV light as they separate. This technique is primarily used to separate and identify components in a given sample of material, whether organic (such as proteins, organic acids, and sugars) or inorganic (such as salt and certain metals).
This chromatographic method is most commonly used in analytical chemistry, providing qualitative information about the components of a sample.
Column Chromatography
Column chromatography is a type of chromatography that uses a stationary phase. It can be used to separate mixtures of liquids or substances that have different molecular weights, polarities, and solubilities. In column chromatography, the stationary phase is packed into a vertical column with the sample at the top and the solvent.
The molecules move out of the column at different rates. Depending on how strongly they adhere to the stationary phase, the individual components in the sample are separated. This type of chromatography is often used to identify and purify compounds from a given sample.
Thin Layer Chromatography
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is one of the main types of chromatography used in analytical chemistry. It is an effective and affordable way to separate and identify components of a mixture. A stationary phase, such as silica gel, covers a thin sheet of glass, metal, or plastic, and a mobile stage, usually a liquid or gas, is passed over it.
Different substances are bound to the stationary phase, allowing them to move up the plate at different rates. This results in separating the components so that the separate parts can be identified and quantified.
TLC is widely used for many lab experiments. It is often used as an inexpensive and effective first step before using more expensive and time-consuming techniques such as gas chromatography. For more chromatography tips, check out this peek tubing.
Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography
In HIC, the stationary phase consists of a packing of hydrophobic particles. This is used to separate a mixture of compounds based on their hydrophobicity. The compounds in a sample solution are introduced to the filling.
They are separated based on their affinity for the surface of the particles. The sample is then forced through the packing, and the compounds in the sample extract at different speeds. It allows them to be isolated.
This method is helpful in many fields, including:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Biomedical research
- Clinical Diagnostics
- Food safety
Mixed-Mode Chromatography
This type of chromatography combines several independent chromatographic modes in one chromatographic system. This facilitates faster separations and more excellent selectivity. The result is a comprehensive method to capture a single sample.
This increases the resin’s selectivity since proteins can be sorted based on multiple features rather than just one. MMC is quite valid when other resins cannot produce an appropriate resolution.
Ion Exchange Chromatography
This is a type of chromatography that is used to separate components based on their ionic charge. In this type of chromatography, an ion exchange resin is used to attract and bind molecules with a similar amount.
Once bound, they can then be separated from the solution by applying a maximum amount of dissolution pressure. This chromatography is commonly used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries.
Affinity Chromatography
This type of chromatography is based on selective attraction. The ligand is attached to a solid matrix. It works as a stationary phase while the mixed sample, or mobile phase, passes through it.
The analyte molecules are bound to the ligand, where they are separated. This is advantageous because of its high specificity and low background noise.
Exclusion Chromatography
Exclusion chromatography is one of the main types of chromatography and is used to separate a mixture of substances. It relies on the difference between the sizes of proteins and other molecules in the sample. The components are separated as they interact with a porous support matrix.
A solution containing the sample is passed over the medium, and the components in the mixture are retained on the matrix due to their size relative to the pore size. After a certain amount of time has elapsed, the details are eluted from the matrix with a solvent or buffer.
Exclusion chromatography is typically used to separate proteins, amphipathic molecules, and other solids that can travel through the pores. It is versatile in that it can be used with various sample types. It can give information on the exact size, molecular weight, and composition of the molecules present in the sample.
Reverse-Phase Chromatography
This is one of the main types of chromatography and is widely used in the purification and analysis of compounds. Reverse phase chromatography is based on the adsorption of the mixture components onto a non-polar adsorbent. The mobile phase usually consists of a mixture of water and an organic solvent, and the non-polar surface of the stationary phase provides the attractive force for adsorption.
The sample’s protein or nucleic acid components are retained on the non-polar surface. In contrast, the aqueous part of the mixture will move down the column, thus allowing the proteins or nucleic acids to elute. This is a potent tool in biochemistry and molecular biology.
Understanding the Types of Chromatography
Chromatography has been used and developed for many different applications. To learn more, look for resources and tutorials to better understand the different types of chromatography.
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