Retention Factor Analysis of Dye Extracted from Garden Croton (Coliseum variegatum) Leaves

Angelica T. Genova*, Amante T. Ama

ESEP, Camarines Sur National High School
Naga City, Philippines
*Corresponding Author: angelicagenova13@gmail.com
Abstract
Chromatography is a process widely used to separate mixtures in a
stationary and a mobile phase. Mixture is dissolve in a fluid called the mobile
phase, which carries it through a structure holding another material called the
stationary phase. The mobile phase flows through the stationary phase and carries
the components of the mixture with it. In conducting the experiment, the
researcher prepared the materials needed. Using mortar and pestle, the weighed
leaves were crashed and was poured inside a beaker with distilled water. The
precipitates of the mixture were left to settle at the top of the surface. With a thin
cloth, the mixture was strained and placed in a small vial. Small amount of the
dye was dropped on the filter paper. The radii of the dye and the solvent in each
trial were recorded. The retention factor was calculated. Results indicated that the
calculated retention factor was low. The researcher therefore conclude that the
dye extracted from garden croton leaves has a low retention factor.
Keywords: Paper chromatography, Retention factor, Solvent, Dye
1. Introduction
Today, a wide method of chromatography is use as a technique to separate and to identify components of
mixture, which has a very special process for multitude separation of complex mixtures. This analytical technique can
separate delicate products since the conditions under which is performed not typically severe [1].
Mixtures in a stationary and a mobile phase were being separated in this method. Mobile phase carries out a
structure holding another material called the stationary phase [2]. The mobile phase flows through the stationary phase
and carries the components of the mixture with it.
In the 19th century, several German chemists carried out deliberate experiments to explore this kind of
phenomenon. They observed that the development of concentric colored rings done by dropping solutions of inorganic
compounds onto the center of a piece of filter paper, however treatise published in 1861 by Friedrich Goppelsrder
describing the method and giving it the name capillary analysis[5]. The discovery of chromatography, however, was
generally attributed to the Russian botanist Mikhail S. Tsvet in 1901 after distinguishing the physicochemical origin
of the separation and applied it in a organized way to separate plant pigments [9].
Garden croton (Codiaeum variegatum ) is an evergreen species of plant in the genus Codiaeum, which is a
member of the family Euphorbiaceae. The stems contain milky sap that bleeds from cut stems. It has color patterns
that follow the veins, the margins or the marks on the leaf. Popular cultivars include Spiral which has spirally twisted
red and green leaves [3] [6].
In this study, the researcher conducted an experimentation to determine the retention factor of the dye
extracted from the Garden croton leaves. The objectives of this study are to analyze the separation of solvent and dye
on the filter paper and to calculate the retention factor of the dye using the gathered data during the experimentation.
2. Theoretical Framework
2.1 Adsorption
Adsorption chromatography was first developed. It has a solid stationary phase and a liquid or gaseous mobile
phase. 20th century by using a calcium carbonate stationary phase and a liquid hydrocarbon mobile phase. The different
solutes travelled different distances through the solid, carried along by the solvent. Each solute has its own equilibrium
between adsorption onto the surface of the solid and solubility in the solvent, the least soluble or best adsorbed ones
travel more slowly [8].
2.2 Chromatography
This separation technique is can be used to separate mixtures of colored compounds. Mixtures that are
suitable for separation by chromatography include inks, dyes and coloring agents in food.
Simple chromatography carried out on paper. A spot of the mixture placed near the bottom of a piece of
chromatography paper and the paper was placed upright in a suitable solvent, e.g. water. As the solvent soaks up the
paper, it carries the mixtures with it. Different components of the mixture will move at different rates. This separates
the mixture out [7].

2.3 Retention Factor

The rates of migration of substances in chromatographic procedures depend on the relative attraction of the
substances for the stationary and the mobile phases. Those solutes attracted more strongly to the stationary phase were
held back relative to those solutes attracted more strongly to the mobile phase. The forces of attraction are usually
selective. Different chromatograms and the separated components of the mixtures can be identified by calculating the
Rf value using the shown equation below where is the retention factor, is the radius of the dye, and is the
radius of the solvent [10].

=
(1)

2.4 Solvent
Solvent on organic absorption spectra had been deliberated for more than a century. It was known that the photophysical behavior of dissolved dye depends on the nature of its environment and maximum absorption wavelength
of the absorption band of dye in solution depends strongly on the solvent-solute interactions and solvent nature. This
effect was closely related to the nature and degree of dyesolvent interactions [4].
3. Methodology
The researcher conducted an experimental setup to strengthen the study. The materials needed in the
experiment were dropper, test tube, beaker, vial, mortar and pestle, distilled water, filter paper, and garden croton
leaves. For better result, a pair of scissors, ruler, thin cloth, camera, and a weighing scale were used.
In preparation for the dye, fresh garden croton leaves were gathered. 5-gram of the leaves was weighed using
a weighing scale. Using mortar and pestle, the weighed leaves were crashed. 5-ml of the distilled water was obtained
using a test tube. Together with the weighed leaves of garden croton and distilled water, the mixture was poured inside
a beaker. The precipitates of the mixture were left to settle at the top of the surface for 24 hours. Using a piece of thin
cloth, the mixture was strained and was placed in a small vial. Using the dropper, three drops of the extracted dye was
dropped on the filter paper. The same amount of droppings was made for another two trials. The radius of the dye and
the solvent were measured and recorded. Using the data gathered, the researcher calculated the retention factor of the
dye in three trials. The retention factor and other data gathered were analyzed.

Fig.1. Garden Croton (Coliseum variegatum).

4. Results and Discussion
Using the collected data, the researcher was able to analyze the experimentation conducted. Calculations
were made on the three trials to determine the retention factor of the dye extracted from garden croton leaves.
The results indicated that the , radius of solvent, obtained in trial 1, 2, and 3 were 8 mm, 11.5 mm, and
12.5 mm respectively and the measured , radius of the dye, in Trial 1, 2, and 3 were 4.40 mm, 6.50 mm, and 7.50
mm respectively. As shown in Table 1, the attained results of , retention factor of the dye, in three trials were 0.55,
0.56, and 0.60 respectively. These results showed that the extracted dye of Garden croton has a low retention factor.

Fig.2. The extracted dye of garden croton leaves placed on filter paper.
Table 1. Radius of Dye and Solvent in Three Trials.

Trial

(mm)

(mm)

Retention Factor

8.00

4.40

0.55

11.50

6.50

0.56

12.50

7.50

0.60

5. Conclusion
In the conducted experiment, the separation of the solvent and dye was seen. Using the technique paper
chromatography, the radius of the solvent and dye were gathered. The retention factor was computed using the
collected data. Results showed that the computed retention factor was below one and was therefore indicated that it
has a low retention factor.
The researcher therefore conclude that the dye extracted from Garden croton leaves was determined to have
a low retention factor.
Acknowledgements
The researcher would like to express gratitude to Mr. Amante T. Ama, their research teacher for his
supervisions and advices that brought to the success of this work. Most especially, to the Almighty God for giving
strength and wisdom in accomplishing this research study.

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