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Solvent systems commonly used in lichenology for chemotaxonomy identification

Solvent system A: benzene:dioxane:acetic acid (90:25:4; 238 mL)

Solvent system B: hexane:ethyl ether:formic acid (5:4:1; 200 mL)

Solvent system C: toluene:acetic acid (85:15; 240 mL)

solvent system.png

How to interpret the table below (from Culberson, C. F., & Kristinsson, H.-D. (1970). A standardized method for the identification of lichen products. Journal of Chromatography A, 46, 85–93. doi:10.1016/s0021-9673(00)83967-9)

Solvent A Rf
Solvent B Rf
Solvent C Rf
Compounds
Spot coloration with H2SO4 and heat, (*), pigmentation, color reactions, etc.
4
6
4-5
anziaic
Yellow*; C+
4
6
5
4-o-demethylbarbatic
Yellow*; C+
4
6
5-6
divaricatic
Yellow*
4
6
5-6
diffractaic
Yellow*
4
6
5-6
barbatic
Yellow*
4
6
6
sekikaic
Brown*
4
6
6
homosekikaic
Yellow-brown*
4
6-7
6
didymic
Pinkish gray*; C+ blue-green
4
7
6
imbricaric
Yellow*
4
7
6
stenosporic
Yellow*
4
7
6
perlatolic
Yellow*
4
7
6
sphaerophorin
Yellow*
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