coherent
Harmless
Posts: 19
Registered: 27-6-2023
Location: Australia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Curious
|
|
DIY TLC plate indicators
Given that commercial TLC plates are absurdly expensive, I've long been wondering how easy it would be to just make my own using microscope slides or
similar as a backing material.
However to make the plates more useful I'm interested in what are some good options for indicators, especially those that would be suitable for DIY
use in TLC plates.
Does anyone have any suggestions that would be suitable for an inexperienced individual ie: not horribly toxic, straightforward preparation, easily
acquirable?
|
|
|
Rainwater
National Hazard
Posts: 804
Registered: 22-12-2021
Member Is Offline
Mood: indisposition to activity
|
|
Zinc sulfide doped with other metals has a nice glow and is suggested in many videos on the subject
I havent got it to work with copper yet, it glows under blacklight but not in the dark.
"You can't do that" - challenge accepted
|
|
|
Sulaiman
International Hazard
Posts: 3562
Registered: 8-2-2015
Location: 3rd rock from the sun
Member Is Offline
|
|
If you master the deposition of ZnS on glass
then I suggest as a side project: make a spinthariscope
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinthariscope
241Am from a smoke alarm, ZnS screen, magnifying glass in a dark room.
.... Fascinating
CAUTION : Hobby Chemist, not Professional or even Amateur
|
|
|
Rainwater
National Hazard
Posts: 804
Registered: 22-12-2021
Member Is Offline
Mood: indisposition to activity
|
|
I can not find the exact procedure I was attempting.
It was based on a video
I think 1g of ZnS is added to a test tube and barely covered with water
Then 1g of CuSO4*5H2O was disolved to 1L of water, then 0.5mL or some very small amount was added to the ZnS powder. The tube is
capped and shaken until mixed and dried.
After the waters gone its fired to almost melting while protected from oxygen.
The powder will glow under uv and the copper is supposed to make it glow in the dark.
Found it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NGdVCIGHeQE
Just add a small amound if the doped ZnS or whatever dye you select to your tlc mix and then
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pNDQkM3jasA
"You can't do that" - challenge accepted
|
|
|
Fulmen
International Hazard
Posts: 1693
Registered: 24-9-2005
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bored
|
|
Don't dismiss stains like iodine, KMnO4 or sulfuric acid. Some are a bit compound specific but that can sometimes be utilized for better separation.
We're not banging rocks together here. We know how to put a man back together.
|
|
|
coherent
Harmless
Posts: 19
Registered: 27-6-2023
Location: Australia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Curious
|
|
Oh wow, that is a very cool little gadget. I'll definitely be keen to try it out should I ever have the skills for it.
|
|
|
coherent
Harmless
Posts: 19
Registered: 27-6-2023
Location: Australia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Curious
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by Rainwater  | I can not find the exact procedure I was attempting.
It was based on a video
I think 1g of ZnS is added to a test tube and barely covered with water
Then 1g of CuSO4*5H2O was disolved to 1L of water, then 0.5mL or some very small amount was added to the ZnS powder. The tube is
capped and shaken until mixed and dried.
After the waters gone its fired to almost melting while protected from oxygen.
The powder will glow under uv and the copper is supposed to make it glow in the dark.
Found it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NGdVCIGHeQE
Just add a small amound if the doped ZnS or whatever dye you select to your tlc mix and then
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pNDQkM3jasA |
Perfect! thanks for the assist
|
|
|
coherent
Harmless
Posts: 19
Registered: 27-6-2023
Location: Australia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Curious
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by Fulmen | | Don't dismiss stains like iodine, KMnO4 or sulfuric acid. Some are a bit compound specific but that can sometimes be utilized for better separation.
|
Seems like variety would be the best approach, many seem to work well with aromatic rings but beyond that scope I'd imagine that the more options the
better.
KMnO4 seems like a good candidate given it's quite easily acquirable (here in Australia anyway...), will have to start building a collection I think.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
