Chromatography Forum

Well guys, we are making some progress. My son (Michael) did manage to dissolve some crayon in a commercial grade solvent that he and my husband had at their shop. (I don't have it here so can't tell you what was in it, but can do so later.) He made a thickish mixture at first, and tried to run the test using a dab of that on the paper, but it didn't work. He then added quite a bit more of the solvent (using a glass dish) and let it set. At this time it has separated into colored particles on the bottom of the dish and an almost clear liquid, which I guess is the paraffin in the solvent.

Now we need to separate the pigment from the liquid. One idea I had was to pour it through cloth, like cheesecloth. Hopefully that would capture the pigment, but would it be clean enough to use, or would there still be enough paraffin left with it to compromise it? How could you clean it further? And then we would have to figure out what it would mix with.

You guys have been so very helpful with this project, which has become an educational experience for my entire family, not just my granddaughter. I appreciate any other advice or suggestions you might have.

Thanks so much,
Stephanie

Since you have coffe filters already, filter the liquid through one of them, then wash with some more of the solvent that dissolves the wax. You then need to find a solvent that will dissolve the colour so that you can do the paper chromatography. Try your solvent collection again on the colour only. When you have one that dissolves it, make as strong a solution as you can, and spot a bit onto the bottom of the paper strip. Let the spot dry and then dip the edge of the strip in clean solvent and see what runs.

By then end of this your whole family will be addicted to glue sniffing - make sure that you have very good ventilation.

Peter