1. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHIC PURIFICATION OF NITROANILINES
Experiment 5:
COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHIC PURIFICATION OF NITROANILINES

2. Objectives To learn the separation technique of column chromatography.
To separate constitutional isomers of o-nitroaniline from p-nitroaniline using this technique.
To analyze the purity of the isolated compounds using TLC and HPLC.

3. Before coming to lab…
Prepare the Pre-lab notebook entry for this experiment!
It is *highly recommended* that you watch a short video prior to coming to lab! Simply copy and paste the following link into your address bar:
Please note that this is an example of how column chromatography experiments are performed, however our procedure may be slightly different.

4. TLC VS. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
Polar components (b) adsorb more strongly to the polar silica gel and elute after the less polar components, which move more quickly with the non-polar (relative to silica gel) solvent.

5. COMPARISON OF LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY METHODS
TLC
HPLC
Column
Stationary phase
SiO2 gel on aluminum plate
SiO2 gel in a small horizontal tube
SiO2 gel in a small vertical tube
Mobile phase
Nonpolar solvent…in jar…
moves up TLC plate and pushes analyte
up the plate.
Nonpolar solvent…moves through small tube and pushes analyte through to detector.
Nonpolar solvent…moves through small tube and pushes analyte out of bottom.
Purity
Single spot per lane on TLC plate
Single peak per chromatogram
**Since column chromatography is a PREPARATIVE technique, not an ANALYTICAL technique, another method of analysis must be used such as TLC or HPLC.
Identity
Sample Rf value
compared to standard Rf values
Sample retention times compared to standard retention times
Polar analyte
Lo TLC Rf
Hi HPLC Rt
Slow column elution rate
Nonpolar analyte
Hi TLC Rf
Lo HPLC Rt
Fast column elution rate
Increasing solvent system polarity…
Increases ALL Rf values
Decreases ALL Rt
Increases ALL column elution rates

6. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY: General Procedure
Prepare column
Load column
Develop column
Collect fractions
Analyze fractions

7. OVERVIEW
Run column to separate the nitroaniline compounds from one another.
Collect the compounds in separate test tubes as they elute from the column.
Perform a TLC experiment to determine which test tubes contain pure o-nitroaniline and which contain pure p-nitroaniline.
Combine pure p-nitroaniline fractions in one container, combine pure o-nitroaniline fractions in another.
Evaporate solvent to concentrate samples.
Prepare an HPLC vial of each sample and submit for analysis.

8. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY: Preparing the column…
MATERIALS:
50 mL SOLVENT 1
30 mL SOLVENT 2
20 mL SOLVENT 3
20 cc SiO2 gel

9. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY: Preparing the column…
Mix slurry
Add slurry
Drain solvent

10. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY: Loading the column…
Add concentrated sample solution with spiraling motion
Rinse sides of column with solvent to remove excess sample
Allow column rinse to load into silica gel

11. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY: Developing the column…
SLOWLY add solvent to column to elute compounds

12. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY: Collecting fractions…
Once individual fractions are collected, you will perform a TLC experiment to determine which test tubes contain which nitroaniline compound.
You should prepare ONE TLC plate, with up to 7 lanes per plate.
Remember to apply the original sample mixture solution as your standard.

13. COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY: Analyzing fractions by TLC…
TLC analysis is used to evaluate how well the compounds were separated during the column procedure.
Each fraction is applied to the TLC plate. Once developed, the fractions containing only one compound are considered PURE.
Fractions containing the same compound are combined to produce a pure sample.
HPLC analysis will be performed afterwards to determine the purity of the compounds once isolated from one another.

14. TABLE 5.1
Compound
Standard Rf Value
Rf value Fraction #1
Rf value Fraction #2
Rf value Fraction #3
Rf value Fraction #4
Rf value Fraction #5
Rf value Fraction #6
o-nitroaniline
p-nitroaniline
Rf values are unit less and 2 decimal places ONLY!
Individual fractions may contain a single compound or both compounds as the column proceeds.
Fractions containing a single compound are considered PURE fractions, while those containing both compounds are considered MIXED (IMPURE) fractions.

15. HPLC SAMPLE PREPARATION
***MODIFICATION***
Add 1 pump of HPLC solvent directly to beaker and swirl to liquefy sample.
Transfer 2 drops of this liquid to a small auto analyzer vial.
Add another pump of HPLC solvent to the vial to dilute the sample.
Place sample vial into vial slot in sample tray and sign out on vial slot sheet.
Repeat steps with next sample.

16. HPLC SAMPLE PREPARATION
HPLC sample prep area located in balance room
To operate dispenser on solvent bottle, pull up on plunger and push down SLOWLY!

17. TABLE 5.2
Compound
Standards
Component #1
Component #2 Rt
(min)
HPLC
% Area
o-nitroaniline
p-nitroaniline
Samples containing a single compound are considered PURE samples, while those containing both compounds are considered MIXED (IMPURE) samples.
Be sure to attach both sample chromatograms to final lab report!

18. SAFETY CONCERNS
Ethyl acetate and hexane are flammable. Never use these solvents around an open flame or hot hot plate.
o-nitroaniline and p-nitroaniline are toxic if ingested or inhaled. Wear safety goggles all times during the experiment!
GLOVES are available upon request.

19. WASTE MANAGEMENT
Place all liquid waste into the container marked “LIQUID ORGANIC WASTE”.
Place used TLC capillaries in the broken glass container.
Place TLC plates in yellow solid waste trashcan under the supply hood.
Leave the columns containing SiO2 gel suspended in hood.

20. LABORATORY NOTEBOOK (Pre-lab)
OBJECTIVE (Must clearly state…)
What is the goal of the experiment?
How will you accomplish this goal?
How will you determine if it worked?
TABLE OF PHYSICAL DATA (Complete the following table using MSDS sheets from a site on WWW Links ONLY. Wikipedia is unacceptable)
REFERENCE TO PROCEDURE (Must include…)
full title
Edition
authors
page numbers where actual procedure can be found
Compound
MW (g/mol) bp
(Co)
d (g/mL)
HAZARDS
Acetone
hexane
Ethyl acetate
o-nitroaniline
XXX
p-nitroaniline

21. LABORATORY NOTEBOOK (In-lab)
DATA/CALCULATIONS
TLC:
TLC diagram (s)
Example Rf calculation
HPLC:
HPLC sample solvent identity
HPLC vial slot #s (2)
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
In paragraph form, briefly describe the procedure that you actually followed during the lab.
Paragraph must be written in PAST TENSE, PASSIVE VOICE.
Include any volumes or weights of chemicals used during the experiment.
Include any mistakes, accidents, or observations if necessary.