Ancient Chromatography Experiments

As early as ancient Roman times, people discovered that dyes and pigments could be analyzed by observing concentric rings formed through capillary action when solutions diffused on cloth or paper

Ancient Roman chromatography experiments

Scientific Innovation in the 19th Century

Moving forward to the mid-19th century, German chemist Carl Runge made significant improvements to this ancient method. By refining experimental conditions and procedures, he enabled the method to not only separate salt solutions but also achieve good reproducibility and quantitative capabilities. This marked the transition of chromatography from primitive observation and qualitative analysis to a more scientific and systematic approach.

The Birth of Modern Chromatography

In 1903, at a biological conference of the Warsaw Naturalists’ Society, Russian botanist Mikhail Tswett presented a paper titled "A New Type of Adsorption Phenomenon and Its Application in Biochemical Analysis." He introduced a separation technique using adsorption principles to isolate plant pigments, marking the foundation of modern chromatography.

(1) The First Demonstration of Chromatography

In his experiment, Tswett packed calcium carbonate into a vertical glass column, then poured a petroleum ether solution containing plant pigments from the top of the column. Through ‌elution with solvent‌, he observed that the pigments formed distinct colored bands in different parts of the column. This process not only successfully purified plant pigments but also marked the beginning of modern chromatography.

(2) Establishment of Chromatographic Terminology

Tswett named this novel separation technique "Chromatography," derived from the Greek words "Chroma" (meaning "color") and "Graphy" (meaning "to write/draw"). In his definition, the calcium carbonate packed in the tube was called the "Stationary phase," and the solvent used for flushing was called the "Mobile phase"—two terms that remain core concepts in chromatography to this day.

The Development and Impact of Chromatography

Tswett's methodology revolutionized chemical analysis by enabling precise separation of complex mixtures. From isolating plant pigments to facilitating modern biomolecular studies (e.g., protein purification via light-responsive affinity chromatography), chromatography remains indispensable across scientific disciplines.