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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.
2
3
3
hypothamnolic
Greenish*; K+, C+
2
3
3
squamatic
Yellow*; UV+++
2
4
2
endocrocin
Orange pigment; K+
2
4
2
diploschistesic
C+ blue
2
4
2
siphulin
C+ red
2
4-5
3
physodalic
dark gray*; PD+
2
4-5
3
haemathamnolic
Yellow*; PD+
2
5
2
pulvinic
Yellow pigment; UV+ orange
2
5
2
unknown with psoromic
Greenish*
2
5
2-3
barbatolic
Yellow*; K+, PD+
2-3
4-5
3
umbilicaric
Yellow*
3
2
2
unknown with stictic
Yellow*; PD+
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