c30f analytical chemistry labscript
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Determination of analgesics by thin layer chromatography (TLC)
1. Introduction:
Because of its simplicity and speed, thin layer chromatography (TLC) has found many applications in medical, biological, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences (1,2). Some of the more common components found in over-the-counter analgesic products include aspirin, phenacetin (withdrawn), caffeine, paracetamol (acetaminophen), and codeine, (methylmorphine) (3). Find structures for these products in the Pharmacopedic.
Thin layer chromatography is a special application of adsorption chromatography, in which a thin layer of adsorbent coated onto a flat surface is utilized, instead of a column of adsorbent, as used in column chromatography. The most commonly used adsorbent in TLC is silica gel and the flat surface is a plain rectangular or square glass plate.
The separation of the components of a mixture depends on adsorption-desorption equilibria between compounds adsorbed on the solid stationary phase and in the moving liquid phase. The extent of adsorption of a single component depends upon the polarity of the molecule, the activity of the adsorbent, and the polarity of the mobile liquid phase.
The separation of the components in a mixture is dependent on the relative values of the adsorption-desorption equilibrium constants for each of the components in the mixture. In
general, the more polar a functional group in the compound, the more strongly it will be adsorbed on the surface of the solid phase. The activity of the adsorbent (adsorptive power) depends on the type of material and on the mode of its preparation. The choice of the proper adsorbent will depend on the types of compounds to be chromatographed (1,2).
Elution, or development of the chromatogram, is accomplished by capillary movement of the solvent up the thin layer of adsorbent. The sample is applied in a small drop a short distance from one end of the plate, and the solvent evaporated off. The plate is then placed vertically into a closed jar with its lower edge dipping into a pool of eluting solvent. Separation is stopped by removal of the plate when the solvent front approaches the top edge.
If the components are colored, they can be located visibly, but more often they are invisible and must be located by other means. Illumination with ultra-violet light will excite many compounds to fluoresce. Another possibility is to impregnate the plate in advance with a fluorescent dye; the presence of an ultra-violet-absorbing compound on the adsorbent will result in a dark spot on exposure to ultra-violet light, as the compound
quenches the fluorescence of the dye. If these approaches still do not make the TLC components visible, a color- or fluorescence-producing reagent can be sprayed onto the dried plate, to render the spots visible. Once the spots are located, their Rf values can be calculated from the equation:
Rf = Distance moved by compound
Distance moved by solvent system
TLC can be used for small-scale preparative separations, employing thicker layers of adsorbent and applying the sample as a band instead of individual spots. The chromatogram can be developed, and the edges of the plate treated with visualizing agents to locate the bands of interest. The position of the bands on the developed TLC plate can alternately be located under ultra-violet light. Once the bands are located, they are scraped from the plates and the material leached from the adsorbent using an appropriate solvent. The dissolved components of the bands can then be analyzed by other techniques, including UV spectroscopy.
TLC may also be used as a means of identification of an analyte. For example, TLC analysis of an extract of a forensic sample, alongside standards of analytes suspected to be present in the sample, allows the analyte in the sample to be tentatively identified. Confirmatory tests can then be used to positively identify the analyte (4,5).
In this experiment, TLC plates will be prepared and used, , with UV spectroscopy, for the semi-quantitative determination of selected analgesics in pharmaceutical preparations.
2. Experimental procedure:
(A) Preparation of TLC plates:
(a) Obtain two 20cm x 20cm glass plates and two 5cm x 20cm plates, for coating with
silica gel. Wash plates thoroughly with detergent and water, rinse with distilled water
and allow to drain. Wipe plates free of grease and dirt with acetone-soaked tissue. It
is important that the surface of the glass be kept free of grease and dirt, to ensure
complete spreading of the adsorbent.
(b) Mount plates on the plate spreader, with the 20 x 5cm plates on either
end and clamp the plates to provide an even spreading surface.
(c) Mix the recommended weight of silica gel adsorbent with distilled water,
to give a smooth slurry (25g in about 60-70mL water).
(d) Set the gap of the TLC applicator to 0.25mm, using the feeler gauge
provided. Place applicator on an end-plate, with the gap away from the
analytical 20 x 20cm plates.
(e) Pour the slurry and distribute evenly in the reservoir. With a single
constant motion, draw the slurry along the plates, stopping only when the
applicator is on the other end-plate.
(f) Tap the sides of the plate holder to smooth the surface of the slurry
layer, then release the pressure on the plates. Separate the plates by means
of a spatula, remove both end-plates and discard.
(g) Wash and drain the applicator, for use by the next group.
(h) Allow the analytical plates to air-dry, until the watery sheen has
disappeared, then remove from plate holder.
(i) Place plates horizontally in a plate rack provided, and activate in an
oven at 110° to 120°C overnight and cool in a desiccator before use.
(B) Sample preparation:
(a) Weigh out accurately 1.5g of the finely powdered analgesic mixture provided and
extract by swirling with 4mL analytical grade methanol/acetone (1:1 v/v), in a small
beaker for about 5 minutes.
(b) Filter the mixture through filter paper (Whatman No.1) into a 10mL
volumetric flask. Repeat the extraction procedure as described in (i) and
make up to the mark with methanol.
(c) Sample application and development of chromatogram:
(i) On each of the activated TLC plates, gently mark the intended positions of
samples and standards with a clean pointed glass rod, starting from one
edge of the plate. Begin at least 1.5 cm from either vertical edge and keep
samples at least 1.5 cm apart.
(ii) Apply the standards, starting from at least 2cm from one edge of the
plate, using a separate graduated 10uL micropipette for each standard.
Take care not to make craters or holes on the adsorbent layer.
(iii) Apply the sample spots to the other marked positions on the origin line,
using a clean 10uL micropipette
(iv) Score a horizontal line 15 cm from the origin line, to provide a stop
mark for the developing solvent.
(v) Develop the plates in tanks pre-equilibriated for one hour with a
toluene:acetic acid:diethyl ether:methanol mixture, in the volume ratio of
120:30:30:02.
N.B. Ensure that the level of the solvent is below that of the applied spots.
(vi) Remove the plates from the tank and allow the solvent to evaporate.
(C) Detection of sample spots:
(a) Some of the constituents in the mixture may not be very stable on the TLC
plate. Thus, once the plates are dried, they must be examined immediately under
short wavelength UV (254nm) and long wavelength UV (365nm) light.
(b) Using a clean pointed glass rod, mark the outline of the standard and sample
spots, and note the color of each visualized spot.
(c) Identify the individual components in the mixture from their respective
Rf values and colors, by comparison with those of the standards.
(D) UV Spectroscopy of sample extracts:
(a) Carefully scrape all the silica gel outlined for each sample component from
the TLC plate, into the centre of a fluted 5cm diam. Whatman No. 1 filter
paper. Take care not to contaminate a component with materials from other
spots on the plate.
(b) Elute each sample component with 3 successive 3mL volumes of analytical
grade methanol into a 10mL volumetric flask. Make up to the mark with methanol.
(c) Scan each analgesic standard solution provided and note their respective
absorbances at the wavelength of maximal absorption. Scan each sample extract
similarly and determine their absorbances.
(d) Hence calculate the concentration of each analgesic component identified
in the sample, using tabulated absorption extinction coefficients of each standard.
3. Exercise:
Explain how it might be possible to analyse a mixture such as Asprin/Phenacetin/Codeine
by UV-VIS spectroscopy, without separating the individual components from the
mixture.
4. References:
1. Stahl, E. (1969) Thin Layer Chromatography, 1st. Edition.
2. Freid, B., Sherma, J. Thin-Layer Chromatography (1986)
2nd. Edition. Marcel Dekker Inc.
3. The Merck Index, Merck and Co. Inc. (1983).
4. Lieu, V.T. (1971) Journal of Chem. Educ., 48(7) 479.
5. Ganshirt, H., Malzacher, A. (1960). Arch. Pharmz. 293(65) 925.
Anal-Chem Resources
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