2. Implementation of planar chromatography

2.1 Geometry of the stationary phase layer

Chromatography on special paper (fibrous or adsorbent material), which can be cut to size with scissors, is nowadays only used in a few special cases, such as dye chromatography.

In TLC, ready-to-use plates are available from many manufacturers. They consist of a rigid or flexible inert support (glass plate, aluminum foil, polyamide, etc.) onto which the stationary phase is deposited as a thin layer (200 to 250 µm thick).

Only layers of solid particles agglomerated by an organic or inorganic binder, which also serves to ensure adhesion to the inert support, are available. There are no commercial...