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Ultrathin-Layer Chromatography (UTLC)

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Abstract

Ultrathin-layer chromatography (UTLC) differs from high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and from thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in two basis things: the layer thickness, and the migration distances of the analytes. UTLC has a monolithic or a nanostructured stationary silica gel phase bound directly to the glass plates. Layer thickness in UTLC is 10 μm, instead of 100–250 μm in HPTLC. Migration distances are in the range of 1–3 cm for UTLC, instead of 8–10 cm for HPTLC. Therefore, the major advantages of UTLC over HPTLC and TLC are the shorter development times and higher separation efficiency and sensitivity. Moreover, separations on UTLC plates require smaller reagent and sample volumes. However, the UTLC plates are very difficult to manage with the TLC and HPTLC equipment currently available. Therefore, the next challenge in this area is the development of an inexpensive solution with appropriate instrumentation (sensitive optical scanners and sample application systems). UTLC had been used for separations of many compounds, e.g., pharmaceutically active ingredients, pesticides, plasticisers, natural products, and other chemical substances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 237, Concepción, Chile

    Sigrid Mennickent & Marta de Diego

  2. Department of Bromatology, Nutrition and Dietetic, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 237, Concepción, Chile

    Mario Vega

Authors
  1. Sigrid Mennickent
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  2. Marta de Diego
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  3. Mario Vega
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sigrid Mennickent.

Additional information

Published in the topical collection Miniaturized and New Featured Planar Chromatography and Related Techniques with guest editor Paweł K. Zarzycki.

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Mennickent, S., de Diego, M. & Vega, M. Ultrathin-Layer Chromatography (UTLC). Chromatographia 76, 1233–1238 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-013-2522-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-013-2522-7

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