# Rapid RF Measurement in Chromatography

## Abstract

THE device described here has proved very useful for the rapid measurement of RF values on paper partition chromatograms1. In the figure, AB is an aluminium strip 20 in. × ½ in. × $1 8$ in., AC is a piece of white elastic 9 in. × ½ in. attached to the end A of the strip by sewing through a hole in the strip. The other end of the elastic C is attached to a small ‘bulldog' clip. A scale (divided into 100 parts) is marked on the elastic. For use, the zero of the scale is placed at the origin line or spot and the 100 mark stretched out to coincide with the position reached by the solvent front. The RF values of the spots can then be read off directly on the scale. While α-amino-acids can be recognized simply from their relative positions on a chromatogram, the device allows a quick check on isolated or unknown spots or the spread of a spot. A smaller apparatus on the same expanding-scale principle can be used for measuring the R value2 of substances on a column where the ratio, movement of band/movement of sample of liquid in unpacked part of the column above, is employed.

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## References

1. 1

Consden, R., Gordon, A. H., and Martin, A. J. P., Biochem. J., 38, 224 (1944).

2. 2

Martin, A. J. P., and Synge, R. I. M., Biochem. J., 35, 1358 (1941).

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PHILLIPS, D. Rapid RF Measurement in Chromatography. Nature 162, 29 (1948) doi:10.1038/162029a0

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