Modern Advances in Thin-Layer Chromatography

Abstract

Thin layer chromatography (TLC), an analytical separation technique which can be used at the micro or macro level, was first introduced in 1938 by Izmailov and Shraiber (1) as spot chromatography. Eleven years later (2), surface chromatography was used to fractionate inorganic salts on adsorbent-coated glass plates. In 1951 Kirchner etal (3) used glass strips coated with adsorbents for the separation of terpenes. TLC became popular after Shahl in 1956 (4) introduced a spreader which could prepare uniform and reproducible layers.