Paper chromatography is an ancient technique to separate low molecular mass compounds based on their distribution between mobile phase (solvent) and stationary phase (cellulose and cellulose-bound water). Paper chromatography has been largely replaced by thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography as the latter methods have higher resolution capability. Nevertheless due to low cost and availability of great number of protocols for separation of various compounds, paper chromatography is still a powerful analytical tool. In the current protocol this technique is exemplified by separation of urocanic acid and deaminohistidine.

Paper chromatography (纸色谱)

Urocanate (urocanate)

Dihydrourocanate (dihydrourocanate)