arkoma - 12-6-2014 at 10:30
Bear in mind I have essentially a budget of ZERO. I have been looking fruitlessly on-line for what "defines" chromatography paper. I have been
getting way more satisfactory results from copy paper than coffee filters, but it seems to have a "bluish" tint of its own. *sigh*
I have a bit of alumina, should I try coating the paper? Any suggestions and/or insight?
Brain&Force - 12-6-2014 at 10:44
I've done simple chromatography with plain white paper towels. What exactly are you trying to separate? I was separating food coloring mixtures and
plant pigments.
[Edited on 12.6.2014 by Brain&Force]
arkoma - 12-6-2014 at 10:53
plant pigments; specifically flowers. Got started with just using them as indicators and I'm now hooked.
AND this is post 100! w00t w00t
Edit--well, the "brighteners" in copy paper are indeed there. I hung a piece of "plain" paper in my Cromo jar. Definitely a blue front.
Gonna wash it with water/min spirits/dimethyl ketone and report my findings.
[Edited on 6-12-2014 by arkoma]
aga - 12-6-2014 at 12:39
perhaps do a 'null' chromatography experiment on a sheet of copy paper using distilled water.
see where the blue gets to, and mark that point/radius.
dry the paper, then do your actual experiment, already knowing where the impurity in the paper gets to.
Artemus Gordon - 12-6-2014 at 13:38
I have zero experience in this issue, but ISTM you want to avoid papers that advertise whiteness as an important selling point. In the USA, drugstores
often have cheap office supplies. You might find "filler paper" for three-ring binders. This is paper whose main function is to take up space rather
than to be beautiful, so they might skip the step of adding brighteners. Also, if your budget will allow buying a whole ream of paper, office supply
stores sell many different kinds of printer/copier paper. Perhaps you can find one that is more "Earth-friendly" that omits brighteners.
arkoma - 12-6-2014 at 15:40
@AGA & Artemus: washed some strips of paper in D-H2O, Ligroin, and Dimethyl Ketone. Getting ready tohang a "blank" strip in my jar and see what
happens.
This community is AWESOME 
UnintentionalChaos - 12-6-2014 at 16:10
I would look into watercolor paper It's thick, holds up well to being wet (by necessity) and probably doesn't have surface treatments that would
prevent absorption or risk altering colors put onto it.
arkoma - 12-6-2014 at 16:53
Excellent suggestion, UC!! I would NEVER have thought of it.
Paddywhacker - 12-6-2014 at 19:02
Sheets of plain blotting paper, available on eBay and from craft shops.
forgottenpassword - 13-6-2014 at 05:50
http://www.amazon.com/CHROMATOGRAPHY-PAPER-Wide-SOLD-FOOT/dp...
Don't forget to saturate your paper with eluent vapors before developing.
[Edited on 13-6-2014 by forgottenpassword]
arkoma - 13-6-2014 at 06:00
Seems I now have a "sponsor". Paper on the way!!!
@forgotten--I just found that out (vapors) yesterday, whilst trying to find out what defined chromo paper!
paper
argyrium - 13-6-2014 at 09:18
Water coloring paper is a great support but is most often is treated with a sizing material to limit spread...
blotting paper or washed coffee filter paper.
hyfalcon - 13-6-2014 at 10:23
For the truly low budget, try end rolls at your local newspaper. They usually GIVE them away.
Brain&Force - 13-6-2014 at 13:42
Blotting paper...that's what I was thinking of. We used blotting paper for plant dye experiments. (I used red leaf lettuce if you're curious.)
I might try something similar for rare-earth metal separation.
Dimethyl ketone? You mean acetone?
arkoma - 13-6-2014 at 15:46
Yes, acetone (I like the way "dimethyl" rolls of the old tongue LOL)