Chromatography of photosynthetic pigments
Introduction and context
In this practical, students use Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) to
separate photosynthetic pigments from grass. They take measurements from and
observations of the chromatogram to suggest the possible identity of each
pigment separated.
It is interesting for students to see the range of pigments that can
be separated from our ubiquitous “green grass”, highlighting the importance of
separating molecules to see what is present. In this method an organic solvent is
used for extraction and for running the chromatogram, so pigments that run
successfully are the non-polar, membrane-bound, photosynthetic pigments not the
polar, vacuolar, anthocyanin colouration pigments.
As well as comparing the photosynthetic pigments present in different
plant species or varieties, extension activities could include comparing
photosynthetic pigment extraction with anthocyanin extraction and the
possibility of identifying photosynthetic pigments from other non-plant
sources.
Safety Notes
·
The solvents used to extract the pigments from the
leaves and run the chromatogram are highly flammable. Ensure that there are no
naked flames or other sources of ignition in the laboratory.
·
Wear eye protection when using the solvent.
·
Avoid inhaling vapour as much as possible by
minimising the quantity of solvent used and minimising the escape of the
vapour.
·
Ensure laboratory is well-ventilated.
·
The
vapours may cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Check CLEAPSS guidelines (Hazcards 45A and 85) for further
guidance on the use, preparation, and disposal of the extraction and running
solvents.
Apparatus – per chromatogram
- 1 x Thin Layer Chromatography strip ~ 13mm x 67mm*
- Glass specimen vial (~2cm x 7.5cm) / universal vial
- Cork / bung for glass vial, cut in half lengthways
- Pestle and Mortar
- 0.5g fresh grass leaves (from a succulent grass lawn ~5 pinches, or other green plant material)
- Dissecting scissors
- Silver sand – a pinch
- Propanone – approximately 2cm3
- 2x Plastic pipettes (3cm3) one for propanone and one for the running solvent
- 1cm3 (approx.) running solvent (5 cyclohexane: 3 propanone: 2 petroleum spirit 80-100°C by volume) – per chromatogram depending on glassware used
- Plastic micro-pipette tip/ fine glass pipette
- White tile
- Pencil & ruler
*TLC plates
are commonly available as 40mm x 80mm plates (50 per box), each plate can be
economically cut into 3 strips lengthways to provide a plate for each student -
adjust in length to fit your vials (see supplier details below).
Other
apparatus for extension activities
- It may be possible to extract carotenoids from other plant material using this method (e.g. carrots, maize, dandelions, buttercups, bananas, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe melons, tomatoes)
- It may be possible to extract anthocyanins from red or blue fruits, flowers and leaves but a different extraction and running solvent would be required as these anthocyanins are much more polar molecules (CLEAPSS has suggestions for anthocyanin extraction solvents). Strawberries or the leaves of Coleus sp. could be used.
- It may be possible to extract carotenoids from egg yolks or butter using this method and a comparison of the types of carotenoids found in eggs from hens reared in different conditions (e.g. barn, free range, corn fed) may be an interesting investigation.
Suppliers
TLC plates
Thin
layer Chromatograph plates are available from standard school science suppliers;
we recommend the Macherey Nagel POLYGRAM brand, product code 805021. Costs for
these vary between suppliers, but average around £40 for a pack of 50 plates
(cutting the plates into 3 gives an end cost of around 25p per run). See for
example Timstar
Chromatography vessels:
Glass
specimen vials or wide necked McCartney vials are ideal, but any glass vessel
or approx. 2x7.5cm will suffice. Drosophila culture vials are also ideal for
this purpose. Cork stoppers/bungs (if available) are easiest to split in half
lengthways to hold the TLC plate.
Teaching Notes
General
practical tips
- Selecting the plant material – grass is suggested, partly as this is ubiquitous so students will see it regularly and may relate this back to their chromatogram. Also because it produces a good range of different pigments when developing the method. Any plant material can be tried and it may be useful to trial different species to see what works well at the time you are carrying out the practical. Spinach can work well, we suggest using bagged ‘organic’ spinach (‘organic’ leaves tend to be freshest, and not pre-treated with bleaches).
- Time frame to collect data – The extraction of the photosynthetic pigments should only take 2-3minutes, the spotting on the TLC plate will take a further 3 minutes or so depending on the rigour of drying between each spot and the number of spots re-applied. The chromatogram will take a couple of minutes to set up and then about 8 minutes to run. Removal of the chromatography plate, marking the location of the solvent front and each pigment spot should be done quickly ideally within a minute.
- Drying and concentrating spots – the results are clearer if the spot is small and concentrated. The chromatogram will still show the spread of pigments if there is a bit of spreading but students should try their best to make the spot as small and as concentrated as possible (~3 mm dia. max).
- Solvents can be dispensed using plastic pipettes, students should be encouraged to use the minimum volumes required – just enough to produce a liquid in the bottom of the mortar and just enough running solvent to so it will touch the chromatography plate in the glass vial.
- Measuring the solvent front – the front starts evaporating immediately on removal of the plate from the glass vial. Within a couple of seconds the solvent front shrinks lower and will disappears within a few more seconds. Students need to be made aware that recording the location of the solvent front is a critical point in the practical.
- When to stop the chromatogram – running the chromatogram for longer gives better separation of the pigments but it is critical to stop the chromatogram before solvent front reaches the cork/bung – further than this will prevent measurement of the solvent front, so Rf values cannot be calculated. Time spent running the chromatogram is not critical as the calculation of Rf values standardises this, however students should keep an eye on their chromatogram and remove it when the location of the solvent front is approaching the cork bung.
- Measuring distances – measuring the distance each pigment spot and the solvent front has travelled to the nearest mm is an appropriate level of accuracy. If spread widely the centre of each pigment spot should be used to determine the distance each pigment has travelled. As some pigments fade each pigment band should be recorded lightly by pencil on one side of the plate.
- Rf Values – The Rf values obtained by students may be dependent upon the specific TLC plates used, the temperature of the laboratory and the age of the running solvent. Accompanying Student Notes give a suggested range of Rf values for each photosynthetic pigment using this method, these ranges may vary under different conditions.
Students may need to be taught or
reminded about:
- Calculating Rf values
- Polar and non-polar molecules
- Calculating percentage error
Notes on student tasks
- As a minimum students should extract the photosynthetic pigments from grass, measure the distances the pigment spots and the solvent front have travelled, calculate Rf values and use these values, as well as colour observations, to make suggestions for the identity of each pigment spot.
- This activity should take about 20mins in total.
- Extension activities:
- Students could run several chromatograms simultaneously with minimal increase in the total practical time - different students could carry out extraction of different plant materials with all extracts then available to all students.
- Students could consider the relationship between Rf value and molecular structure for each of the photosynthetic pigments. This protocol uses a non-polar extraction and running solvent. The solvent extracts relatively non-polar molecules such as the photosynthetic pigments embedded within the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. It is straightforward to explain the relative Rf values of the different carotenoids based on their molecular structure as well as the relative Rf values of the chlorophylls and pheophytins based on their molecular structure. It is more difficult to develop suggestions to explain the relative Rf values of the different carotenoids in comparison to the different pheophytins and chlorophylls. (see the “Background information” section for further discussion of the categories of photosynthetic pigments and their molecular nature)
- One potential extension is to compare extraction of both the relatively non-polar photosynthetic pigments and the polar anthocyanins (used by plants for colouration). A different extraction and running solvent would be needed to extract anthocyanins. Extending the practical in this way would help encourage students to think carefully about the nature of chromatography, how it separates molecules. It also helps students to make the link between the chemical nature of the pigments and how this determines how they can be extracted (and their Rf value with a particular solvent). Additionally links can also be made between the function and location of the pigments in plant – photosynthetic pigments being non-polar due to the functional requirement that they are membrane-bound, with anthocyanins being polar as they are accumulated in the watery contents of the vacuole.
- Further potential investigations could be to study the carotenoids found in egg yolks. Using grass as a standard it could be possible to make suggestions regarding which carotenoids may be present or absent in egg yolks. It may also be possible to compare barn reared, free range and corn fed hens eggs to see if there are differences in carotenoids present. Maize may be used as a comparison. It may also be possible to incorporate work with a colorimeter to investigate quantities of pigments present.
Possible questions for students
1.
Follow
the protocol and answer the following questions
Name
the method of chemical separation you have used.
What
species did you investigate?
Why
is it important to use an organic (non-polar) solvent and not a polar one like
water?
What is the sand for? How could you prove that
the pigments came from the plant material and not the sand?
Why is it important to mark positions in pencil
rather than pen (particularly that starting position of the concentrated
extract)?
Why is repeated application of the plant extract
onto the same spot required?
Why is it important to let the spot dry in
between each repeated application of the plant extract?
Why is it important that the spot of plant
extract is above the surface of the solvent when the chromatography plate is
placed in the vial?
Why is it important that the chromatogram is
stopped before the solvent front reaches the top? What would happen to the
pigment spots if the chromatogram was left running for a long time?
Why is it important to mark the solvent front
quickly?
Why is it useful to mark the positions of the
pigment spots or take a photograph of the chromatogram soon after it has been
run?
How accurate is your measurement of the
distance the solvent front has travelled and how far each pigment spot has
travelled (to the nearest 1cm, 0.1cm, 0.01cm or something different)? (Consider
the limitations of the ruler you’re using and the difficulty in locating the
exact position of the solvent front or centre of the pigment spot).
How do you calculate an Rf value?
How could you modify the equipment/experiment,
only very slightly in order to get more accurate measurements of the Rf values
for each pigment?
What is the percentage error in the Rf values
you get for each pigment spot?
What safety precautions did you, and the class
as a whole take when using the solvent? Include ways in which you reduced the
amount of solvent that evaporated into the air.
2.
The
findings from your investigation
How many different pigment spots did
you obtain?
Have you managed to identify any pigments?
If so which ones and how confident are you about their identity? What factors
affect your confidence
(both positively and negatively)?
Is
it possible to have an Rf value greater than 1? Explain.
Does
it matter if different chromatograms are run for different lengths of time?
Explain.
What
could be done to confirm the identity of each pigment if the results were
unclear or if two molecules were a similar colour and/or their Rf values were
very similar?
If
you were interested in the concentration of each pigment in the plant material
what practical technique could you use?
3.
The
Biology of photosynthetic pigments and exploring the photosynthetic molecules
Where, exactly have you extracted the
photosynthetic pigments from?
How does the fact that these pigments dissolve
in an organic (relatively non-polar solvent) help explain the precise location
of these pigments in plant cells?
Assuming that the distance the pigment
travelled is based on the solubility of the molecule in the organic solvent
suggest what might be concluded about the differences in structure between
different pigments.
What is the role of these photosynthetic
pigments in photosynthesis?
Why is it useful for a plant to have several
different photosynthetic pigments?
How do the molecular structures of
chlorophyll a and b differ? Explain why chlorophyll a has a larger Rf value
than chlorophyll b? (show molecular structures) (clue: relatively non-polar
solvent = mobile phase and a relatively polar stationary phase = the TLC plate).
How do the molecular structures of the
chlorophylls vary in comparison to the pheophytins explain why the pheophytins
have a larger Rf value than the chlorophylls? (show molecular structures)
(clue: relatively non-polar solvent = mobile phase and a relatively polar stationary
phase = the TLC plate).
How does the molecular structure of beta-carotene
explain why it has such a large Rf value? (show structure) (clue: relatively
non-polar solvent = mobile phase and a relatively polar stationary phase = the
TLC plate).
How do the molecular structures of the
3 different xanthophylls explain why they all have relatively small Rf values
and how do the 3 different structures explain the order in which these pigments
appear in the chromatogram? (show structures and give clue as above. Also extra
information is likely to be required: Hydroxyl (OH) and epoxy (C-O-C in a
triangle) groups are polar groups and the hydroxyl group is more polar than the
epoxy group.
4.
Exploring
pigments in other biological material
Other plant pigments called
anthocyanins are not membrane bound, relatively non-polar molecules, but are
pigments that are polar and dissolved in the watery contents of plant vacuoles.
What would you need to do to modify this experimental method in order to
investigate anthocyanins in leaves of flowers?
Design an experiment to determine
whether the red of strawberries and the red of tomatoes is the same pigment
molecule.
If you got a pigment spot from one of
the strawberry or the tomato but not the other it might be possible that the
pigment from the one without the spot is still the same molecule but is held
more tightly within the cells or organelles and so just didn’t move up the
chromatography plate. What other reason could there be for a pigment not moving
from the original location and what could you do to further investigate if this
was the case?
Do some research into colour pigments
in the natural world. Investigate keywords such as carotenoids, carotenes and
xanthophylls, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and anthoxanthins. Pick 3 interesting
facts to share.
Design an experiment to determine
whether the yellow of hen egg yolk is the same molecule as any of the yellow
pigments found in grass. Extend the design of this experiment to be able to
investigate whether eggs from hens reared in different conditions (e.g. barn,
free-range, corn fed) have different pigments in their yolks. Incorporate into
the design a way to see if the yellow pigment in this corn (sweet corn/maize)
is different to any of those found in grass. You could also research this
online.
Would it be possible to use this
experiment to see if artificial “yolk-yellowers” are added to the feed of some
hens? Would it also be possible to use this experiment to see if supplements of
the natural “yolk-yellowing” pigments are added to the feed of some hens?
How could quantities of pigments in egg
yolk be investigated rather than just presence or absence of a particular
pigment?
Getting learning value from the
practical
It is important to consider the purpose
of practical work in Biology lessons and the following information provides
suggested areas where this practical can be used to help students develop their
practical, mathematical and subject-knowledge-based skills and understanding.
The latter part of this section shows how this practical (or an extension of
it) can also be used to meet some of the A-level specification requirements for
the Use of apparatus and techniques
as well as the Common practical
assessment criteria (CPAC).
PRACTICAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT
You should be able to:
·
use a pestle and mortar to
extract photosynthetic pigments from plant material
·
follow instructions carefully
to successfully produce a chromatogram of photosynthetic pigments from the
plant extract
·
accurately measure the distance
between the solvent front and the original concentrated extract spot as well as
the distance between each pigment spot and the original concentrated extract
spot
·
calculate Rf values for each
of the pigment spots
·
Compare calculated Rf values
with those of known pigments to suggest the identity of each molecule
·
record Rf values, observations
and suggested identity of pigments in a suitable table
·
use information about the
nature of each molecule to explain their Rf values relative to other similar
molecules
EXTENSION TO PRACTICAL SKILL
DEVELOPMENT
You should be able to:
·
suggest ways to improve the
accuracy of the Rf values calculated
·
suggest factors that would
need to be controlled, and/or modifications to the method if comparisons of
pigments from different sources were to be made
·
describe a suitable control
experiment to ensure that the pigment come from the plant extract and not from
other equipment or chemicals used in the process
·
design an experiment to
investigate the possible presence of both polar and non-polar pigments in
different plant extracts (e.g. comparing tomatoes and strawberries)
·
design an experiment to
explore the pigments in hen egg yolks and how this may relate to how the hens
are reared and/or what they are fed
·
design an extension to the
main experiment, or any of the others mentioned above to investigate the
concentration of particular pigments rather than just their presence or absence
MATHS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
You should be able to:
·
calculate Rf values for each
of the pigment spots
·
calculate the percentage error
in the measurements taken
EXTENSION TO MATHS SKILL DEVELOPMENT
You should be able to:
·
work out a range for each Rf
value that would include the true Rf value for that chromatogram
·
calculate the percentage error
in the Rf values calculated
ASSOCIATED SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE
DEVELOPMENT
You should be able to:
1. State
the precise location of the pigments involved in photosynthesis within the leaf
2. Name
5 photosynthetic pigments (or types of pigment) found in leaves
3. Outline
the role of the leaf pigments in photosynthesis
4. Explain
how the terms “light harvesting systems”, “photosystems” and “reaction centres”
are related
5. Explain
why many plants have a variety of photosynthetic pigments
6. Describe
how to conduct chromatography to separate pigments from a leaf, explain
importance of each step
7. List
3 characteristics of the solute (in this case a pigment) that influences how
far it travels during chromatography, and for each describe the effect it has
8. Describe
how to calculate the Rf value for a particular substance
9. Explain
how a chromatogram can be used to identify an unknown substance
RECORDING EVIDENCE OF STUDENTS’ WORK
Students can use the worksheet provided
to produce evidence of their work in this practical that can contribute to
their practical skills accreditation.
MEETING ASPECTS OF THE USE OF APPARATUS AND TECHNIQUES
The full practical can allow students
to meet various components of Appendix 5c of the GCE AS and A level subject content for biology, chemistry, physics and
psychology (DfE, April, 2014) in bold
(with clarification where needed):
1. Use appropriate apparatus to
record a range of quantitative measurements (to
include mass, time, volume, temperature,
length and pH).
2. Use
appropriate instrumentation to record quantitative measurements, such as a
colorimeter or potometer.
3. Use
laboratory glassware apparatus for a variety of experimental techniques to
include serial dilutions.
4. Use
of light microscope at high power and low power, including use of a graticule.
5. Produce
scientific drawing from observation with annotations.
6. Use
qualitative reagents to identify biological molecules.
7. Separate biological compounds
using thin layer/paper chromatography or electrophoresis.
8. Safely
and ethically use organisms to measure:
a. Plant
or animal responses
b. Physiological
functions
9. Use
microbiological aseptic techniques, including the use of agar plates and broth
10. Safely
use instruments for dissection of an animal organ, or plant organ.
11. Use
sampling techniques in fieldwork.
12. Use
ICT such as computer modelling, or data logger to collect data, or use software
to process data.
MEETING ASPECTS OF THE COMMON PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA (CPAC)
Competency
|
Practical
Mastery
|
Evidence
from this practical / or opportunity to train students in this skill using
this practical
|
Follows
written procedures
|
Correctly follows instructions to carry out the
experimental techniques or procedures.
|
Observational evidence from the teacher.
Positive outcome for the student’s chromatogram.
Being able to answer questions about the procedure.
|
Applies
investigative approaches and methods when using instruments and equipment
|
Correctly uses appropriate instrumentation, apparatus and
materials (including ICT) to carry out investigative activities, experimental
techniques and procedures with minimal assistance or prompting.
|
Use of pestle and mortar, running the chromatogram and
measuring Rf values.
|
Caries out techniques or procedures methodically, in
sequence and in combination, identifying practical issues and making
adjustments when necessary.
|
Follow procedure – set up the chromatography plate in the
glassware appropriately, adjusting during trial if necessary.
|
|
Identifies and controls significant quantitative variables
where applicable, and plans approaches to take account of variables that
cannot readily be controlled.
|
If comparing between plant species/varieties then running on the same
plate or ensuring the same protocol is followed. Standardising extraction
method.
|
|
Selects appropriate equipment and measurement strategies
in order to ensure suitably accurate results.
|
Can answer questions about modifications to increase the
accuracy of the Rf value measurement and to clarify the identification of the
different pigments.
|
|
Safely
uses a range of practical equipment and materials
|
Identifies hazards and assesses risks associated with
these hazards when carrying out experimental techniques and procedures in the
lab or field.
|
Can answer questions about the risks from this practical
and the safety precautions taken.
|
Uses appropriate safety equipment and approaches to
minimise risks with minimal prompting.
Identifies safety issues and makes adjustments when
necessary.
|
Evidence from actions that minimise use and evaporation of
the extraction and running solvent.
|
|
Makes
and records observations
|
Makes accurate observations relevant to the experimental
or investigative procedure.
|
Accurate descriptions of colour and measurements of
distances the solvent front and the pigments travel.
|
Obtains accurate, precise and sufficient data for
experimental and investigative procedures and record this methodically using
appropriate units and conventions.
|
Measurements and observations from the chromatogram taken
and recorded and used appropriately to make suggestions about the identity of
the pigments.
|
|
Researches,
references and reports
|
Uses appropriate software and/or tools to process data,
carry out research and report findings.
|
Report writing packages (e.g. Word). Internet search
engines.
|
Sources of information are cited demonstrating that
research has taken place, supporting planning and conclusions.
|
Referencing in final report or presentation.
|
Background information
The learning outcomes document for this
practical summarises the key background information relating to the chromatography
of photosynthetic pigments.
Rf value
terminology – The definition of an Rf value, based on how it is calculated, is
consistently applied throughout the literature however what the “R” and the “f”
stand for varies from source to source. You may find it referred to as
“relative front”, “rate of flow”, “retention value” or “retardation factor”.
Below is
information about the different pigments that may be useful when discussing the
reasons behind the relative distances the different pigments travel in the
chromatogram.
The chlorophylls
(a and b) and pheophytins (a and b) are very similar molecules (figure 1A-C).
They all have a porphyrin-like ring structure (a complex ring of carbon atoms
with 4 Nitrogen atoms near the centre) with a long hydrophobic hydrocarbon
tail. The chlorophylls have a magnesium atom at the centre of the
porphyrin-like ring whereas the pheophytins are missing the magnesium atom and
have two hydrogen atoms instead. As well as the magnesium and nitrogen atoms
there are some oxygen atoms around the ring that contribute to the polar nature
of this part of the molecule. The absence of the magnesium atom in the
pheophytins makes them less polar than the chlorophylls and so they have a
larger Rf value in the solvent used here. Chlorophyll b and pheophytin b have
one more oxygen atom around the ring than their a equivalents, making them more polar than their a equivalents, so they have smaller Rf
values than their a equivalents.
Pheophytins
used to be considered solely as breakdown products of chlorophyll, however, they
are now considered to be early electron acceptors of photosystem II (they may
still be breakdown products as well).
Carotenoids
are a group of molecules with 40 carbon atoms arranged, mostly, linearly, often
terminating at each end in a 6 carbon ring. The linear component has
alternating carbon-carbon single and double bonds. These molecules act as both
antenna pigments and photoprotective agents as well as giving colour to plant
structures. The carotenoids are split into two groups: the carotenes (hydrocarbons)
and the xanthophylls (molecules that also contain some oxygen atoms). The
carotene in grass is mostly beta-carotene (figure 1D) and, being a hydrocarbon,
is non-polar and so has a very large Rf value. The xanthophylls most abundant
in grass, are lutein, violaxanthin and neoxanthin (figure 1E-G). Being
xanthophylls they all contain oxygen atoms, making them polar so they have
relatively small Rf values. The least polar of the 3 common xanthophylls is
lutein with one hydroxyl group at each end of the molecule only, therefore
lutein has the largest Rf value of these 3 xanthophylls. As well as the two
hydroxyl groups that lutein has, violaxanthin has two epoxy groups
(carbon-oxygen-carbon in a triangle). Neoxanthin has 3 hydroxyl groups and one
epoxy group. Epoxy groups are polar, but not as polar as hydroxyl groups so
neoxanthin is the most polar of the 3 xanthophylls and therefore has the
smallest Rf value of these 3 molecules.
Sample data
The Chromatogram to the left (figure 2) and the table below shows data collected from grass picked from an amenity lawn outside the laboratory in July, using propanone as the extraction solvent, no sand, and the suggested running solvent (5 cyclohexane: 3 propanone: 2 petroleum ether 80-100°C). It was run for about 8mins and photographed very soon after removal from the running solvent. The solvent front travelled 44mm.
Pigment colour |
Distance pigment has travelled / mm |
Rf value |
Suggested identity of the pigment |
Bright yellow |
41 |
0.93 |
Carotene |
Grey |
20 |
0.45 |
Pheophytin a |
Pale Brown |
16 |
0.36 |
Pheophytin b |
Blue green |
12 |
0.27 |
Chlorophyll a |
Yellow |
11 |
0.25 |
Xanthophyll – Lutein |
Green |
10 |
0.23 |
Chlorophyll b |
Pale yellow |
7 |
0.16 |
Xanthophyll – Violaxanthin |
Pale yellow |
3 |
0.07 |
Xanthophyll – Neoxanthin |
Further
Investigations
As mentioned within this document there is scope to develop this practical in a range of directions including:
· Investigating the presence of carotenoids in other plant material (e.g. carrots, maize, dandelions, buttercups, bananas, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe melons, tomatoes).
· Investigating the presence of carotenoids in animal products (e.g. egg yolk and butter) and possibly comparing eggs produced by hen reared in different conditions (e.g. barn, free range, corn fed).
· Comparing the pigments extracted using polar and non-polar solvents to investigate and compare anthocyanins and the photosynthetic pigments (e.g. comparing the red of tomatoes (lycopene, a non-polar carotenoid) and the red for strawberries (an anthocyanin), or investigating both photosynthetic pigments and anthocyanins in Cloeus spp.)
References
Davies,
K. (ed) (2004) Plant pigments and their manipulation. Annual Plant Review, Vol.
14.
Tomkins,
S. P. and Miller, M. B. (1994), A rapid extraction and fast separation of leaf
pigments using thin layer chromatography. School Science Review 75
(273), 69 - 72. (Available from the SAPS website)
Acknowledgements
Protocol and support materials re-developed
by Dr Chris Graham, Long Road Sixth Form College,
Cambridge and Gail Webdell, Faculty of
Education, University
of Cambridge. Based on an
original protocol developed by Stephen Tomkins, Homerton
College, Cambridge, and Barry Miller, Douglas Ewart High School, Newton
Stewart.
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