Thin Layer Chromatography Procedures

Noam and Zac

Below is a link to the procedure Noam and Zac are developing for running thin layer chromatography in preparation for synthesizing cyanoacrylate. We will be working on a google doc and updating this page whenever there is progress.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wRMO_mcfA7tY9udAK5lsydkKm5vCPAUgddlhmF-AcqU/edit?usp=sharing

Last updated: November 11, 2025

Thin Layer Chromatography Procedure


Materials:


Equipment:

  • Thin layer chromatography plates (silica gel)

  • Pipette

  • 100 ml beaker

  • 3M Ventilation Masks


Procedure:

  1. Making the solvent

    1. Add 2.000g EtOAc and 55.975g of Petroleum Ether (1:30 molar ratio) to a beaker

    2. Stir

  2. Add 0.190g of cyanoacrylate to 15 ml of the solvent solution

  3. Prepping the TLC plates:

    1. Draw a horizontal line on the TLC plate 1 cm away from the bottom of the plate away from the bottom with a graphite pencil

    2. Place filter paper along the wall of the TLC chamber

    3. Pipette solvent onto the filter paper until moist

DO NOT TOUCH THE SILICA GEL SURFACE OF THE PLATES

  1. Place a 6 microliter drop of the cyanoacrylate solution on the drawn line

  2. Place a 6 microliter drop of solvent solution on the drawn line

  3. Place the plate in TLC chamber with the line side on the bottom

  4. Close the lid and wait 15 minutes (possibly longer)

  5. Take photos of results when done.

  6. Repeat steps 3 to 8 three additional times

  7. Repeat steps 3-9 pipetting ethanol onto the filter paper in step 3c.