Chromatographic separation of the components and spectroscopic characterization of the dyes present in commercial lightsticks

CHED 269

Anna E. Comfort, ac644852@arbor.edu, Thomas S. Kuntzleman, tkuntzle@arbor.edu, and Bruce W. Baldwin, bbaldwin@arbor.edu. Department of Chemistry, Spring Arbor University, 106 E. Main Street, Spring Arbor, MI 49283
By using column chromatography with a silica gel stationary phase, the components of an activated lightstick may be partially separated. Because of the separation, the eluate does not emit chemiluminescence. However, if the components of the lightstick mixture that are trapped on the column are added to the eluate, the chemiluminescent reaction is restored. This technique provides a method wherein the lightstick reaction may be stopped and re-initiated at a later time. The chemiluminescence of the dyes collected in the eluate may be recorded and compared to that of the original lightstick mixture. In addition, the fluorescent dyes obtained in the eluate may be analyzed using fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy.