Sciencemadness Discussion Board

uv for tlc

soma - 21-4-2016 at 22:12

Information on the web says to use a 254 nm uv lamp to visualize tlc spots. I've got a "black light" tube that's similar to a fluorescent and is about 1 1/2' long. I don't know what the wave length is for it. Would a light made for tlc at 254 nm be a big difference?

Thanks.

Sulaiman - 22-4-2016 at 00:51

Low pressure mercury vapour lamps have two main emission wavelengths,
184 nm which is usually absorbed by glass, less by quartz
253 nm which passes through quartz and glass

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-vapor_lamp

chemrox - 22-4-2016 at 08:50

black lights are usually low wattage and won't illuminate spots that well. Also it's good to have a 2 wavelength lamp. so called "mineral lamps" work well.

DJF90 - 22-4-2016 at 09:33

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=29250

XeonTheMGPony - 22-4-2016 at 09:43

http://www.hexatechinc.com/uv-c-led.html

A manufacturers page but if you search online you can find more.

In the beams focal point the emission is very powerful, never look directly at led when running.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/UV-LED-torch-250nm-curing-glue-solder...

250Nm 23 cad apx.

[Edited on 22-4-2016 by XeonTheMGPony]

[Edited on 22-4-2016 by XeonTheMGPony]

soma - 22-4-2016 at 13:53

Thanks.

soma - 3-5-2016 at 23:43

Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  
http://www.hexatechinc.com/uv-c-led.html

A manufacturers page but if you search online you can find more.

In the beams focal point the emission is very powerful, never look directly at led when running.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/UV-LED-torch-250nm-curing-glue-solder...

250Nm 23 cad apx.


I got the uv-led torch.

I'm wondering how safe it is to use without safety glasses as long as you don't look directly at it. Could the uv beams reflect off and still cause damage?

Also -- anyone know where I could get an inexpensive 254 nm uv protective face shield?

Thanks.

[Edited on 4-5-2016 by soma]

XeonTheMGPony - 4-5-2016 at 06:33

Yes reflective energy at that wave length is dangerous. Any normal UV filter will do the job. Just to remind the UV bulbs used in air purifiers are the right wave length as well.

Twospoons - 4-5-2016 at 15:56

250nm is short enough you need to be very careful. I'd avoid any skin exposure, not just eyes. Any sheet of clear acrylic or polycarbonate should filter out the UV. Especially stuff intended or outdoor use - there's usually a UV blocker added which cuts off everything under ~400nm.

soma - 21-5-2016 at 23:56

Thought to mention that I found an inexpensive clear polycarbonate face shield for ~$7 at https://www.northernsafety.com/Product/20935/Huntsman-Model-...

I already had the head gear for it but it's also fairly cheap.

From the information I've read, polycarbonate filters out the harmful uv.

[Edited on 22-5-2016 by soma]

PHILOU Zrealone - 2-6-2016 at 02:18

In the black light neon tube, you also have NiO to allow for only UV light to pass through.

NEMO-Chemistry - 2-6-2016 at 02:36

I got a cheap mineral lamp from ebay, it has two tubes one very short UV and the other similar to the black light. The filters on it look like the very dark welding mask glass for arc welders.

I have had the lamp around 5-6 weeks and so far the short wave length has shown way more up on paper chromatography anyway. My uncle is a welder in Newcastle, he has strongly advised me to be extremely careful with the shortwave length UV. It might be an idea to buy a welding filter to be on the safe side with the short wave length, i only mention it because it isnt normally like him to be so careful with things, so i took it seriously when he mentioned it.

Anyone know what the chemical is they use to glow on TLC plates at short wave lengths?

byko3y - 2-6-2016 at 05:56

Usually manganese-doped willemite (Zn2SiO4) is used as a fluorescent mineral. http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/02554?lang=...

It's much easier to safely perform visualization by protecting all the surrondings by placing the lamp and plate into box having a sight glass, thus even your kids can look at the working device without a danger. It's more convenient than covering your body and protecting your eyes separately.

[Edited on 2-6-2016 by byko3y]

NEMO-Chemistry - 2-6-2016 at 10:44

Quote: Originally posted by byko3y  
Usually manganese-doped willemite (Zn2SiO4) is used as a fluorescent mineral. http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/02554?lang=...

It's much easier to safely perform visualization by protecting all the surrondings by placing the lamp and plate into box having a sight glass, thus even your kids can look at the working device without a danger. It's more convenient than covering your body and protecting your eyes separately.

[Edited on 2-6-2016 by byko3y]


Thanks for the info, i am not sure if the filters on the lamp mean you dont need glasses or not? but the mineral lamp is on a stand so you dont look directly at the light anyway.

I am way too young to have my own kids :D