This is a lab report on Drug Analysis-Thin Layer Chromatography

Objective: To detect the separation and tentative identification of components present in mixtures by using thin layer chromatography. Materials and Methods/Procedures: A thin layer plate was obtained and a baseline was drawn in pencil approximately 1.5 cm from the bottom of the plate. Seven equidistant spots were marked and labeled on the baseline. Six samples were obtained and using a new capillary tube for each sample, a spot of each drug solution was

Results: After observing the plate, the drug present in the Unknown samplewas identified as Phenacetine. placed on the appropriate mark on thechromatography plate. The spots observed in the "Mixture" werecompared to the spots of each individual drug and it was noted that theunknown 6, identified as Phenacetine, was the only spot to match with thenumber 7 mixture. The plate was placed in a prepared a"solvent chamber', and when the solventmoved up the plate A of the way, the plate was removed and allowed to dry. The marklabeled a"unknown' was spotted with the unknown sample a couple of times. The spots were allowed to dry, and one drop of thefive drug samples were spotted on the mark labeled a"mixture'. Discussion: When using thin layer chromatography to observe spots ofindividual drugs it was noted that most of the drugs were not level or werea little off track from the others. Conclusion: Thin layer chromatography allowed the student to determinewhat the unknown drug was by running spots of the sample with known drugsamples on the same plate, and then comparing the results. Spot 1-caffeine, and spot 5-quinine were noted to beat the same level. The plate was then examined under short wavelength ultraviolet light. This alsoprevented any uncertainties which could have been caused by variations inthe system.