EXPERIMENT 10 : SEPARATION OF A

MIXTURE OF ALUM FERRIC AND

COPPER SULPHATE USING COLUMN
(ELUTION) CHROMATOGRAPHY
CHM 421

NAME : ANAS BIN MOHD KAMAL

ID : 2016655836
LECTURERS NAME : DR. SUHAILA MOHAMAD HANAPI
ABSTRACT

The purpose of this experiment is to separate a mixture of alum ferric and

copper sulphate using column (elution) chromatography. The slurry of
alumina or silica was used as stationary phase in the column
chromatography, while the mixture solution that is to be separated was the
mobile phase. The mixture was let to elute until colours of bands shows up.
From this experiment, the alum ferric and the copper sulphate had
successfully separated by column chromatography.

OBJECTIVES

To separate a mixture of alum ferric and copper sulphate using column

(elution) chromatography

INTRODUCTION

In this experiment, a mixture of alum ferric and copper sulphate was

separated by elution chromatography. Elution chromatography is a technique
used to separate components of a mixture by washing down the solutes
through a column by additions of fresh solvent. The mixture dissolves in a
mobile phase, is added at the column head. The solutes in the mixture
distribute themselves between the mobile phase and the stationary phase.
Further partition of the solutes occurs as more eluent is poured down the
column.

Solute is carried down the column by the mobile phase. Thus if the
solute is more soluble in the mobile phase then it will spend more time in the
mobile phase. The migration is therefore high for this solute. Conversely if
the solute is more strongly retained by the stationary phase then the
migration rate is small. These differences in rates separate the components
in the mixture into bands or zones in the column. The separated bands can
be isolated and further analysed by collecting the individual band as it
passes out of the column.

METHOD

The slurry of alumina or silica was prepared by mixing the packing material
with water. It was started by weighing about 30 g of the packing material.
Then, water is added to slightly above the level of the powder. The mixture is
mixed well. Then the slurry was poured slowly into a column 2-3 cm at a
time. The column is packed properly by knocking the end of the column onto
a soft padding (cloth, book, etc.) at the bench. The column was prepared
until it is packed to about 15 cm in length of alumina or silica. The column
was clamped onto a retort stand. A filter paper was cut to fit into the mouth
of the column. Carefully, the filter paper was lowered down to rest above the
packing material. A beaker was placed underneath the column and the
stopcock was opened to collect the water from the column. The column was
never let to dry. The water is always made sure to be about 2 cm above the
level of alumina or silica. 2 cm3 of the given mixture was added into the
column. The components were eluted with distilled water until separation of
the mixture occurs.

DISCUSSION
The mixture given to be separated contains coloured compounds, thus the column was monitored

until bands of coloured compounds shows up. The coloured bands were moved down the column

slowly, along with the solvent and as they approach the end of the column, the colours were

collected in individual containers. There were two colours observed, which were blue and green.

Blue coloured compound indicates copper sulphate solution, while green coloured compound

indicates ferric solution. While waiting for the green bands to move down the column, the yellow

bands is just started to elute. But as time is not enough, the yellow compound is not collected.

Yellow coloured compound indicates alum solution.

Image 10.0 : Silica powder

Image 10.1 : Alumina powder

CONCLUSION

The alum ferric and the copper sulphate had successfully separated by
column chromatography.

REFERENCES

1. Separation of Compounds Using Column Chromatography. (2011).

Retrieved 22 November 2016, from http://vlab.amrita.edu/?
sub=2&brch=191&sim=341&cnt=1
2. Column Chromatography. (n. d.). Retrieved 22 November 2016, from
http://web.iyte.edu.tr/~ekremozdemir/9-CC.doc