Separation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons using 2-dimensional thin-layer chromatography: an environmental chemistry experiment

Students of chemistry can learn from using an environmental chemistry experiment involving separation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through use of 2-dimensional thin-layer chromatography 2-D TLC. Students seldom have the opportunity to use 2-D TLC, but it has been used effectively in a second-year environmental chemistry course in Australia. Students in groups deal with an unknown soil sample with two PAHs in it. They simultaneously run the chromatogram of a standard mixture of four PAHs and compare.