To extract pigments from plants and vegetables, tear leaves into small pieces. Place into mortar and sprinkle with some sand. Grind leaves into a pulp with pestle. As you grind you are breaking down the cell walls. Add isopropyl alcohol in small amounts with stirring until a colored solution is formed.
Solutions are sensitive to light and air.
Blend first, then remove pulp to another container and add isopropyl alcohol to pulp to extract pigments. Since most blenders are not explosion-proof do not place any solvents into them. Cut silica plates into approximately 1 cm x 8 cm strips by using a single edged razor blade. Cut on the plastic side to avoid damaging the silica coating. Only touch edges of silica plates as fingerprints will affect the separations.