thin-layer chromatography

A widely used, fairly fast chromatographic technique for separating the components of mixtures. A glass plate is covered with a thin layer of cellulose, silica gel, or alumina. This represents the solid stationary phase. A line is scratched on the base of the plate and a small spot of the mixture is applied to the base line using either a wire loop or a capillary tube. The plate is then suspended in a suitable solvent (the mobile phase), which rises up the plate by capillary action, carrying and separating the mixture into its constituents. The remainder of the procedure is similar to that used in *paper chromatography.