Thin Layer Chromatography

Basics

• A form of Chromatography using a “mobile phase” which spreads the “stationary phase” (the sample) over a piece of material (either a “TLC Plate” or (TLC) Paper)
• Useful not just for research, but also for Quality Control of materials
• Simple Setups can be VERY accessible ( Printer Paper , a Glass Jar, a Dropper, and a Solvent)
• High End Setups can be fully automated and produce Quantitative Data

OSE Use Cases

• Chemical Synthesis Purity Testing
  • Mainly in Regards to Bio-Petrochemistry Lab Scale Chemistry
  • This can also be done to see if a reaction step has “completed”
    • An example is This Video the YouTube Channel “Wheeler Scientific” Titled “From Lab to Backyard: How is DEET in Bug Spray Made? (Specifically at the timecode 5:33 )
• Routine Quality Control use

Setups

Low Budget

• Flat Bottom Glass Beaker
• and/or a Glass TLC Chamber
• A Dropper or better yet a Pipette / Micropipette
• Solvents
  • Stains can help too

Medium Budget

• A Lab Bot for automating the process and a scanner/camera setup to record the results

High End

• Medium, but automated sampling / Mass Spectrometry etc is integrated

Consumables

Paper

• Printer Paper
• Are Specialized Papers Available?

Plates

Cellulosic

• Sorbtech Cellulose TLC Plates (Some are PEI Blends)

Silica

• Fischer Scientific’s Products

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on Thin Layer Chromatography
• Two Biodiesel Related Papers:
• A 2011 Paper Titled “ Analysis of biodiesel conversion using thin layer chromatography and nonlinear calibration curves”
• A 2008 Study in the Journal “Fuel” Titled “ Thin layer chromatography and image analysis to detect glycerol in biodiesel”
• A 2014 Study in the Journal “Water Air and Soil Pollution” Titled “Identifying Type of Refined Petroleum Products in Environmental Media: Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) as a Quick Methodology”
• An Article in “The Journal of Chromatographic Science” Titled “ Suitability of Thin-Layer Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection with Regard to Quantitative Characterization of Different Fossil Fuel Products. II. Calibration Methods Concerning Quantitative Hydrocarbon-Group Type Analysis”
• A 2018 Article in the Journal “Energy and Fuels” Titled “ Evaluation of Thin-Layer Chromatography–Laser Desorption Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometric Imaging for Visualization of Crude Oil Interactions”
• A 2022 Paper Titled “ Thin layer chromatography/desorption flame-induced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/mass spectrometry for the analysis of volatile and semi-volatile mixtures”
• A 2009 Paper Titled “ Thin-Layer Chromatography/Laser-Induced Acoustic Desorption/Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry”