Process Steps

Development is the key step of the TLC/HPTLC process. The selected chamber and chamber configuration play an important role with regard to the separation and the ability to reproduce the chromatography. In addition to stationary and mobile phase, TLC/HPTLC features a gas phase, which can significantly influence the result of the separation. A development can occur in an unsaturated, partially saturated, saturated and/or preconditioned chamber. The primary focus of an automatic chamber (CAMAG® HPTLC PRO Module DEVELOPMENT, CAMAG® Automatic Developing Chamber 2 (ADC 2) or CAMAG® AMD 2 System Automated Multiple Development) is to make the development more reproducible and independent of human interaction. The layer is automatically brought in contact with the mobile phase and the migration is monitored. After completion of chromatography, the plate is dried. With an automatic chamber, the activity of the stationary phase can be adjusted. In the case of the CAMAG® HPTLC PRO Module DEVELOPMENT, the gas phase (from developing solvent or alternative solvent) can even be actively circulated during development to affect the separation of analytes.