Applications of Ascending Paper Chromatography
Some applications of ascending paper chromatography are: Ascending paper chromatography is used for the separation and identification of dissolved sample components on paper. The separated spots are compared with reference standards or Rf values to identify the compounds. A small soluble sample spot is placed near the lower end of chromatography paper. Different components separate because they have different solubility and attraction to the paper. After separation, each component appears as a spot or band at a different position. A known standard can be run beside the unknown sample on the same paper. Matching spot positions or Rf values help confirm the identity of a compound. This comparison is useful for samples such as amino acids, sugars, pigments, dyes, and simple drug compounds.