Difference Between Adsorption and Partition Chromatography

Key Difference – Adsorption vs Partition Chromatography
 

Adsorption chromatography and partition chromatography are varieties of chromatography. Adsorption chromatography separates compounds by adsorption while partition chromatography separates compounds by partition. This is the key difference between adsorption chromatography and partition chromatography.

Chromatography is a laboratory technique that is utilized in the context of separation of mixtures. It consists of two phases namely mobile phase and stationary phase. The stationary phase of adsorption chromatography is in a solid state while, in partition chromatography, the stationary phase is in a liquid state.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Adsorption Chromatography
3. What is Partition Chromatography
4. Similarities Between Adsorption and Partition Chromatography
5. Side by Side Comparison – Adsorption vs Partition Chromatography in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Adsorption Chromatography?

Adsorption chromatography is defined as a type of chromatography where the solute molecules are directly bound to the surface of the stationary phase. In simple terms, adsorption chromatography could be explained as a gas or liquid that is adsorbed to a surface of a solid. Stationary phases possess a variety of adsorption sites.

These adsorption sites differ in tenacity with regards to the molecules that they bind in their relative abundance. The adsorbent activity is determined by the net effect. Adsorption chromatography uses mobile phase in liquid or gas state and stationary phase in the solid state. Each solute has a balance between the adsorption to the surface of the solid and solubility in the solvent. Therefore, the solvent will move up with the mobile phase, and at a point where a state of equilibrium is reached, the solvent will be adsorbed to the stationary phase.

The difference in travelling distances of compounds could be used to identify the particular compound. There are three types of adsorption chromatographic techniques namely, paper chromatography, thin layer chromatography and column chromatography.

What is Partition Chromatography?

Partition chromatography is another type of chromatography that works under the same principle with slight alterations. This particular technique was introduced by Archer Martin and Richard Laurence Millington Synge in the time period of 1940. Similar to other chromatography variances, partition chromatography also contains a stationary phase and a mobile phase.

Both the stationary and mobile phases are liquids. During liquid-liquid separation, a particular compound is separated when it reaches the two immiscible liquid phases that are present under equilibrium conditions. The two liquid phases are the original solvent and the film of solvent that is present in the  adsorption  column.

The work of Martin and Synge on partition chromatography has lead to the development of other varieties of chromatography such as gas-liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and paper chromatography. The invention of paper chromatography in later years lead to the development of thin layer chromatography that is an advanced technology based on paper chromatography.

What are the Similarities Between  Adsorption  and Partition Chromatography?

• Both adsorption  and partition chromatography are varieties of chromatography
• Both types of chromatography function under the same principle of chromatography
• Both types are used to separate mixtures of compounds.
• Both adsorption  and partition chromatography  contain stationary and mobile phases.
• Adsorption and partition chromatography possess the ability to separate compounds in all three states; gas, liquid and solid.
• The mobile phase of both types is in liquid states.

What is the Difference Between Adsorption and Partition Chromatography?

Summary – Adsorption vs Partition Chromatography

Chromatography is a technique that is used to separate compounds from a mixture. Adsorption and partition chromatography are two types of chromatography. The stationary phase of adsorption chromatography is a solid state. Stationary phases possess a variety of adsorption sites. In partition chromatography, the stationary phase is in a liquid state. The mobile phase of both types is in liquid states. The difference between adsorption and partition chromatography is a separation of molecules occur based on the adsorption ability in adsorption chromatography while separation occurs based on the partition in partition chromatography.

Reference :

1.“Partition Chromatography.” Partition Chromatography | Chemistry@TutorVista.com. Available here
2.“Adsorption Chromatography.” Study.com, Study.com. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.’Column chromatography (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia