Isolating algae pigments - Paper chromatography?

[lrost]

I am a high school science teacher and I have a student doing a science research project on Volvox globator. He is planning on exposing the Volvox to different wavelengths of light, then measuring growth (change in numbers). Also, I was wondering if it would be interesting for him to try to detect pigments in the algae using a chromatogram. I have found some resources on this, but I was wondering if paper chromatography would work and if some of the pigments could at least be compared to each other. Also, which solvent should be used?

I appreciate any help!

[MrMistery]

well you can definitely do it (i've done that experiment in my days as a high school student). You would probably need to use some organic solvent, as chlorophyll isn't water soluble. Benzen, acetone etc are good. If i recall correctly i originally used a mixture of 5:1 benzene:acetone (mind you though, this was almost ten years ago, i may have this completely wrong). i also suspect that you can use pretty much any organic solvent with good results. Here is a link http://www.monsanto.com/pdf/responsibil ... action.pdf to a protocol describing chlorophyll extraction using isopropanol.

Cheers,
Andrei