Open Access

Bernd Spangenberg

• Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a well-established and widely used separation technique. Most undergraduate students of chemistry or food science used TLC as a primitive separation tool, which does not need more than small pieces of TLC plates, a glass jar and some solvents. TLC has evolved from a simple separation method of the past into an instrumental technique that offers automation,Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a well-established and widely used separation technique. Most undergraduate students of chemistry or food science used TLC as a primitive separation tool, which does not need more than small pieces of TLC plates, a glass jar and some solvents. TLC has evolved from a simple separation method of the past into an instrumental technique that offers automation, reproducibility and accurate quantification for a wide variety of applications [1]. The use of modern 10*10 cm TLC plates with narrow particle size distribution is called high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), to distinguish the method from the use of traditional 20 20 cm TLC plates.…