An Inexpensive Flash Chromatography Apparatus for the TeachingIResearch Lab S. Todd Deal Rollins College, Winter Park, FL 32789 Flash column chromatography (1)is a highly utilized purification technique in the organic synthesis research lahoratory. A major obstacle to the incorporation of this technique into the undergraduate research laboratory is the cost of the apparatus. The typical set-up requires a flow controller, a column designed to accommodatethis controller, and a pressurized air source. The commercially available flow controllers and specialized columns cost several hundred dollars and often require a separate flow controller for each size of column.' Since a synthetic lab usually requires several preparative and semi-preparative size columns, the cost of simply setting up to perform flash chromatography is beyond the resources available for many undergraduate labs. Jacobson (2) has reported the development of a flash chromatography system that utilizes aquarium pumps and valves in the construction of the apparatus. We have developed an excellent alternative flash chromatography apparatus for use in research labs at all levels, as well as the undergraduate teaching lab, that utilizes materials already available in a typical academic laboratory. Our apparatus consists of a small plastic T-tube with a length of 318in. i.d. Tygon tubing affixed to each arm of the T and secured with copper wire. One of the lengths of tubing is connected to a pressurized air source (usually an in-house system) and the other to the gas inlet on a Bunsen burner bottom, which will serve as the flow controller, as explained below, as well as a pressure release for the system. The bottom of the T is fitted to a one-hole black rubber stopper. Once the column is packed, the stopper is affixed to the column, the column is pressurized, and the needle
valve of the burner bottom is use!d to adjust and contr,31 the flow rate. This a ~ ~ a r a t attac u s !hed to a standard 50-mL buret via a one-hife no. 00 stopper is routinely used in our lab for chromato~ra~hic se~arationof sam~lesUD to 100 mg with excellent r
