 |
Seperation Techniques
The use of separation techniques is essential in analytical chemistry.
Scientists use separation techniques when a single substance needs to be extracted from a mixture of substances. The single substance is called a pure substance.
Combined substances, known as mixed substances, can come in various forms - separation techniques are thus required to extract from each of these different types of mixtures. These can include:
Solution: A solute plus a solvent is called a solution. When a solution contains a lot of solute in a given amount of solvent it is concentrated. When a solution dissolves all the solute it is termed saturated.
Suspension: When particles are suspended in a liquid it is called a suspension.
Liquid/Liquid: When Liquid/Liquid mixtures mix together completely to form one single liquid they are termed Miscible.
Methods of purification and separation can vary and include:
Solvent Extraction: An organic liquid used for solvent extraction must be a good solvent for the solute(s) to be extracted
Extraction of Metal: Many organic compounds form complexes with metal cations - these are more soluble in organic solvents than in water and hence are extractable
Ion Exchange: Usually performed using a glass column packed with ion-exchange resin beads, this has many uses in analytical chemistry
Chromatography: This refers any method in which the components are distributed between a stationary phase and a moving phase
Separation by precipitation: These are valuable for separating ions from one another
To track down the supplies and equipment you need, check our extensive database of suppliers.
|
Biochemistry
Seperation Techniques