Question

n a TLC experiment, two compounds showed Rf values of 0.89 and 0.93. How should the experiment be modified to best improve the separation?

Answer 1

The two components shows 0.89 & 0.93 RF values it means both spot are far near with each other that is no proper seperatios

Solution for this

Generally Separation of components is depend on mobile phase if polarity of Components is same the difficult to seperate .that time we can use following point

1 ) If polarity of solvent increase then Also Separation of components not observe So check TLC by reduce polarity of mobile phase

2) If separation not abserve after reduce polarity then change mobile phase system

Generally Ethyl acetate : hexane or MDC : methanol solvent use as mobile phase ... But for separation MDC : Acetone is also prefer to same polarity component separation