Separation of Nitrobenzene Derivatives with Natural Clinoptilolite by Thin-layer Chromatography

Abstract

The adsorption and the separation of some o-, m- and p-isomers of nitrobenzene derivatives by thinlayer chromatography (TLC) have been studied. From the viewpoint of effective utilization of natural sedimentary zeolite, clinoptilolite produced in Futatsui, Akita Prefecture, was used as an adsorb ent of thin-layer component.
In addtion, zeolite feature as solid acid was characterized by IR and micro-calorimetry of a mmonia adsorption to reveal the behavior to adsorption on thin-layer.
Clinoptilolite was f ound to b e effectively used as well as alumina and silica gel as an adsorbent in TLC. As shown in the example of the separation of p-nitroaniline on clinoptilolite chemically treated with hydrochloric acid, the adsorption due to a kind of molecular shape selective function was considered. Moreover, natural clinoptilolite has high mechanical strength, and therefore, the present result suggests that it can be utilized as separation and adsorption materials for aromatic nitro-compounds from aqueous solution when the Si/Al ratio and the hydrophobic property can be controlled.