Purification of Organic Compounds

Organic compounds derived from natural sources are seldom pure. They are often mixed with other substances which also occur with them. Similarly, the compounds prepared in the laboratory are generally mixed with the products which may also have been formed during the course of reaction. In order to study its properties and to determine its structure, a given substance must be first of all obtained in a state of purity. The methods employed for purification depend upon the nature of the organic compound and the impurities present in it. The processes commonly used for the separation and purification of organic compounds are:

(1) Crystallisation

(2) Sublimation

(3) Distillation

(4) Fractional Distillation

(5) Distillation under reduced pressure

(6) Steam distillation

(7) Extraction with solvents

(8) Chromatography