Efficacy of a Modified Printer for Application of Reagents in Planar Chromatography

Abstract

A commercially available printer was modified for application of reagents in planar chromatography. Optimal settings of the printer driver regarding utmost reagent transfer were investigated. The spatial resolution of the printer was ascertained to be 0.5 mm by visual inspection and 1.5 mm by scanning. On the example of post‐chromatographic derivatization of taurine, the efficacy of printing was evaluated. Therefore, the ninhydrin reagent was adjusted regarding surface tension and viscosity. Repeatability (n=5) showed RSDs of better than ±1.1% and polynomial calibrations correlation coefficients of better than 0.9996. The results obtained for analysis of the energy drink sample ‘Red bull’ were as good as such obtained by dipping. However, several advantageous were involved by printing, such as very low reagent consumption by a cheap, versatile and clean workstation.

Keywords:

• Printing of reagents
• HPTLC
• Planar chromatography
• Printer
• Method comparison
• Taurine

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the university workshop for support of manufacturing the cartridge filling station, Dr. Heinz Hauck and Dr. Dagmar Leiss (Merck, Germany) for support regarding plate material and Dr. Konstantinos Natsias (CAMAG, Germany) concerning quantitative instrumental equipment.