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TLC Plates
Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) Plates
The principle of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) has been known for over 100 years. TLC is still a very common and popular separation technique for qualitative and quantitative analysis in the laboratory. Like all chromatographic methods, the aim is to separate a compound into its chemical components. The success of this method is due to its simplicity, also in terms of sample preparation, low cost, versatility, fast development time, high sensitivity and excellent reproducibility. Thin-layer chromatography is also highly efficient: up to 70 samples can be separated simultaneously on one TLC plate. TLC is used in many industries and research areas, e.g. clinical analysis, food chemistry and pharmaceutical production.
In our Analytics Shop you will find a large selection of TLC plates for your TLC analysis. TLC plates are available in a variety of materials like aluminium oxide, cellulose, diatomaceous earth, silica gel, Sil Gel, Silica Gel, with different pore sizes and modifications.
TLC accessories from all well-known manufacturers can also be found in the Analytics Shop. Please contact us if you have any questions on our products.
Selection of the Solvent
The solvent is selected according to elution strength. With the help of a quick test you can test different solvents and find the suitable one.Â
Sample Application
It is common to use a glass capillary as a dot or short line. Too wide substance zones during application lead to poor separation, as the zones become even wider during separation. After application, the solvent is allowed to evaporate, which can be accelerated by using a dryer.
Development
A common method is to use a development chamber. The eluent is poured into the bottom of the chamber. The saturation of the chamber with the solvent vapour is necessary for a reproducible running distance. The TLC plate with the sample is then positioned in the chamber. The separation is complete when the eluent has risen to the upper end of the TLC plate. Now the TLC plate can be removed and dried accordingly.
Evaluation
The evaluation depends on the aim of the chromatographic analysis. For qualitative determinations it is easiest to run comparison substances. Quantitative evaluations are possible via corresponding calibration measurements. The area of the substance spots is used or a photometric evaluation is carried out on the layer. However, the latter requires more equipment.
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