Methods of
Purification of
Organic
Compounds
Shree Jakkula 11D
•Overview: Purification is essential after extracting or synthesizing
organic compounds to ensure accuracy in research and application.
•Importance: Pure compounds are necessary for consistent results in
Introduction chemical reactions and product formulation.
•Techniques: The presentation will cover five primary methods:
Sublimation, Crystallization,
• Distillation, Differential Extraction, and Chromatography
Sublimation
•Definition: Direct transition of a solid to vapor
without passing through the liquid state.
•Application: Used for separating sublimable
compounds like camphor and iodine from non-
sublimable impurities.
•Advantages: Quick and efficient for specific
compounds, with minimal energy consumption.
•Example: Purifying naphthalene from a mixture.
Crystallization
•Definition: A technique to purify solid
compounds
based on differences in solubility.
•Process: Dissolve the impure compound in
a solvent at high temperature, then cool the
solution to crystallize the pure compound.
•Applications: Widely used in the
pharmaceutical industry for drug
formulation.
•Repeated Crystallization: Often
necessary for compounds with similar
solubilities, improving purity with each cycle.
•Example: Purification of benzoic acid
Distillation
•Definition: Separation of
components based on differences in
boiling points.
•Simple Distillation: Used when
boiling points of components differ
significantly, such as separating
alcohol from water.
Types:
1. Fractional Distillation
2. Distillation Under Reduced
Pressure
3. Steam Distillation
Fractional Distillation
•Definition: Used when boiling points of
components are close.
•Process: Vapors pass through a fractionating
column, allowing better separation due to repeated
condensation and vaporization.
•Applications: Essential in the petroleum industry
for refining crude oil into various fractions.
•Column Design: Different designs optimize
efficiency for various mixtures.
•Example: Separation of ethanol and water.
Distillation
Under Reduced
Pressure
• Definition: Purification of liquids with high
boiling points or those decomposing near
their boiling points.
• Process: Reduces boiling point by lowering
external pressure, preventing
decomposition.
• Applications: Used in the manufacture of
heat-sensitive substances like vitamins and
essential oils.
• Example: Separation of glycerol from
spent-lye
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Steam
Distillation
•Definition: Separation of steam-volatile
substances immiscible with water.
•Process: Steam passes through a mixture, the
volatile component is condensed and separated.
•Applications: Common in the extraction of
essential oils from plants, such as lavender oil.
•Example: Separation of aniline from aniline-
water mixture.
Differential Extraction
•Definition: Separation of an organic
compound in an aqueous solution by using
an organic solvent.
•Process: Shaking the solution in a
separatory funnel, the organic solvent
extracts the compound.
•Applications: Frequently used in natural
product extraction and pharmaceutical
formulations.
•Efficiency: More effective with solvents in
which the compound is highly soluble.
•Example: Extraction of caffeine from tea
leaves using dichloromethane.
• Definition: A technique for
separating mixtures, purifying
compounds, and testing purity.
Chromatogr • Principle: Based on differential
aphy movement of components over a
stationary phase.
• Applications: Widely used in
research and industry for analysis,
purification, and quality control.
Types of Chromatography
1. Adsorption Chromatography
2. Partition Chromatography
3. Thin Layer Chromatography
(TLC)
4. Column Chromatography
Adsorption
Chromatography
1. Principle & Process:
1. Adsorption chromatography separates components of
a mixture based on their varying degrees of adsorption
to a solid stationary phase (such as silica gel or
alumina) while being carried by a liquid or gas mobile
phase.
2. Types:
1. Column Chromatography and Thin Layer
Chromatography (TLC) are the main types of
adsorption chromatography. Both use a solid
adsorbent to separate components based on their
affinity to the stationary phase.
3. Separation Mechanism:
1. Components with stronger adsorption to the stationary
phase move more slowly, while those with weaker
adsorption move faster, leading to separation.
4. Applications:
1. Used for purifying and isolating compounds, especially
in organic chemistry, and in the separation of complex
mixtures in analytical chemistry
Partition
Chromatography
• Principle: Continuous partitioning
between stationary (often liquid)
and mobile phases.
• Paper Chromatography: Utilizes
chromatography paper, with water
as the stationary phase, commonly
used for amino acid analysis.
• Versatility: Can be adapted for both
qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Applications: Often used in the food
industry for identifying additives.
• Example: Separation of amino acids.
Thin Layer
Chromatography (TLC)
•Principle & Process:
•TLC separates components based on their movement over a thin
layer of adsorbent on a plate, with a solvent carrying the
components at different rates.
•Visualization:
•Spots are visualized under UV light or using a reagent if
colorless. The distance traveled by each component is measured.
•Applications:
•Used for checking the purity of compounds, monitoring reactions,
and identifying substances quickly.
Column
Chromatograp
hy
1. Principle & Process:
1. This technique involves separation of a
mixture over a column packed with an
adsorbent. The mixture is applied at the
top, and a solvent (eluant) is passed
through, carrying components at
different rates down the column.
2. Separation:
1. Components separate based on their
affinity for the adsorbent and are
collected in fractions at the bottom.
3. Applications:
1. Widely used for purifying individual
chemical compounds from mixtures,
especially in organic synthesis.