The column used was a 30 cc plastic syringe. The first layer was filled with glass wool fiber and fine sand. The sand was ground by Dr. Hartings using mortar and pestle.
9.9999 g of BDH Silica Gel 60 Angstroms High Purity 40-63 μm was mixed with approximately 30 mL of methanol.
First, the column was washed with water. Afterwards, the silica-methanol mixture was slowly poured to leave the sand layer undisturbed.
After some of the solvent front, methanol, passed, the column was washed with water again. Air pressure was applied to compact the column.
Another water wash was performed.
Once the column was ready, 10 mL BPA sample was poured into the column; solvent of the BPA was drained through the column.
When most of the sample solvent has been drained, 10 mL of water was added into the column.
2 fractions of the 10 mL water and 6, 5 mL fractions of the 30 mL methanol were collected. Each fraction was dotted onto a thin layer chromatography (TLC) paper.
After dotting the TLC paper, there were no observed changes. Hence, Dr. Hartings dissolved FeCl3 in methanol. FeCl3 is expected to form a blue compound once added to phenolic compounds. However, no change was observed even with the addition of FeCl3.
The experiment was terminated.
No change observed could have been that the 10 ppm BPA is too dilute of a concentration for the successful, efficacy of the TLC method.