Principle of Paper Chromatography : It is a type of paper chromatography. It is based on continuous partitioning of components of a mixture between stationary and mobile phases. In this technique, a special quality paper (chromatography paper) is used. It contains water trapped in it, which acts as the stationary phase. A strip of chromatography paper spotted at the base with the solution of the mixture is suspended in a suitable solvent or a mixture of solvents. This solvent acts as the mobile phase. The solvent rises up the paper by capillary action and flows over the spot. The paper selectively retains different components according to their differing partition in the two phases. The paper strip so developed is called chromatogram.
