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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.
3
2
2
variolaric
Yellow or gray*
3
2
3
stictic
Orange-yellow*; PD+
3
2-3
3
echinocarpic
Reddish gray*; PD+
3
3
3
galbinic
Deep yellow*; PD+
3
3
5-6
unknown triterpene
Brownish ; UV-
3
4-5
3
alectoronic
Pale*; KC+, UV+++
3
5
3
hypoprotocetraric
Greenish brown or gray*
3
5
3
physodic
Geenish*; KC+
3
5
3
gyrophoric
yellow or gray*; C+
3
5
3
lecanoric
Yellow*; C+
3
5
4-5
lividic
Greenish or green-brown*
3
5
5
lobaric
Pale green*; KC+
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