Influence of solvent strength in possible optimization of adsorption thin-layer chromatography

Considerations of TLC process optimization have been based on the thermodynamic theory of adsorption from multicomponent solvents using experimental and theoretical R_{M1, 2} = f (Φ₁) relationships. It was found that a relationship exists between the A_z parameter (log k where k is the partition coefficient of the substance chromatographed) of the above theory and pK_a values of substances as well as the solubility parameter δ of the mobile phase components. Analysis of the A_z values of substances shows that a slight variation therein is associated with lower selectivity of chromatographic separation.     

Influence of development distance on resolution in thin-layer chromatography

Theoretical equations are given to relate resolution with development distance. Comparative experiments undertaken with quaternary ammonium compounds as test substances and using a selection of basic drugs are presented. As expected, resolution decreases with shorter development distance. However, this effect is less pronounced for compounds with small R_f values and when the spot size at the starting point is kept small. It was also shown that, for correctly assessing resolution in relation to development distance, the amounts of material spotted have to be decreased for shorter development distances.     

Parameters influencing theoretical determination of RM-values of naphthalene derivatives in thin-layer chromatography by using binary mobile phase

The purpose of the studies being carried out is to find some regularities of a general character which determine the relationship between the structures of the chromatographed substances and the composition of the mobile phase, i.e., between the log of the partition coefficient of the sample (A_z), the K₁-values which characterize the adsorption equilibrium of component “1” in a given chromatographic system, the structures of the mobile phase components and the structures of the substances being chromatographed. This paper deals with the relationship between the A_z and K₁ parameters and the structure of naphthalene and a number of its derivatives. It has been shown that there is a close relationship between the kind, size, frequency and site of the substituent on the one hand and the A_z and K₁ values on the other. In order to eliminate the possibility of unwanted side effects, the investigations were carried exclusively using non-active binary mobile phases of the type N + N or N + /B/. From these investigations, a comparison between the parameter A_z and the surface of adsorbed molecules (A_s) was also possible.     

Computer-aided optimization of stepwise gradient profiles in thin-layer chromatography

Summary Two mixtures, one containing model coloured solutes and the other glycosides from the Digitalis species were separated by stepwise gradient thin-layer chromatography, the first in the system silica-toluene + ethyl acetate, the second in the system silica-ethyl acetate + methanol. The optimal gradient programs (i.e., for which maximal spread of spots along the plate is observed) were determined using a computer program reported in an earlier paper. Good separation and satisfactory agreement of predicted and experimental R_F values were obtained; the non-aqueous system for the separation of lanatosides permits considerable shortening of elution time owing to the lower viscosity of ethyl acetate-methanol mixtures.Dedicated to Professor Leslie S. Ettre on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Gradient thin-layer chromatography of extracts fromDigitalis lanata andDigitalis purpurea

Summary Glycosides isolated fromDigitalis lanata andDigitalis purpurea (1985–1991 crops) were chromatographed on High-Performance precoated silica layers using stepwise gradient elution, the eluents containing increasing concentrations of methanol in ethyl acetate. The extracts were separated into about 20 components, presumably glycosides, some of which were identified using a mixture of standards. Densitograms at 365 nm were also obtained. The adsorbent-eluent system was very efficient and the separation was rapid owing to the use of a non-aqueous mobile phase. The method is suitable for the comparative analysis of lanatosides in plant extracts.     

The use of chemically bonded stationary phases in thin-layer chromatography-a survey

An overview is given of the literature publisned in the field of thin-layer chromatography on chemically bonded phases. Aspects which merit further attention are: quantitative analysis, organic solvent selection, stationary phase characteristics, surface modification of precoated silica plates, ion-pair chromatography and correlation of thin-layer and column chromatographic data.     

Determination of 1-nitropyrene by thin-layer chromatography in a diesel exhaust particulate extract

A method is described for the determination of 1-nitropyrene in a diesel exhaust particulate extract by thin-layer chromatography. 1-Nitropyrene is determined as 1-aminopyrene after prechromatographic reduction and isolation by solvent partition. The fluorescence response of 1-aminopyrene is approximately 1000-fold greater than that of 1-nitropyrene. The poor fluorescence stability of 1-aminopyrene on silica gel plates prevents in situ detection by scanning densitometry unless the plates are impregnated with a mixture of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and Fomblin H-Vac. A linear response from 1 to 150 ng of 1-aminopyrene and a detection limit of 1.0 ng were obtained using the impregnated plates. For fourteen samples of a diesel exhaust particulate extract the concentration of 1-nitropyrene was determined to be 165 μg/g with an RSD = 9.0%. No significant interferences were observed from other nitro- or aminopolycyclic aromatic compounds present in the extract.     

Problems related to the optimum separation conditions in liquid adsorption chromatography

Summary Relationships derived from the thermodynamic formulation of TLC with a binary mobile phase are discussed. The adsorption equilibrium constant is determined from the linear form of a basic equation considering the adsorption process. This linear relationship is examined with help of TLC data obtained by using six different chromatographic systems. The adsorption equilibrium constant obtained from the TLC data is compared to the equilibrium constant determined from adsorption measurements. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Gradient thin-layer chromatography of plant extracts

Summary A modified Niederwieser chamber for stepwise gradient elution, consisting of a PTFE capillary to store the series of eluents and a horizontal glass sandwich chamber with a glass distributor was used for the chromatographic separation of complex plant extracts (Seboren, Hemorigen and Pectosol) used in therapy. Densitograms demonstrate markedly improved separations of the extracts in comparison to isocratic elution.Produced by Polish Reagents, Melgiewska 18, 20-234 Lublin, Poland     

Parameters of preparative centrifugal thin-layer chromatography

Summary The separation performance of preparative, centrifugal thin-layer chromatography was investigated for various flow rates and rotational speeds by means of a modified commerical instrument. High flow rates give rapid separations but require large amounts of solvent. Maximum separation (that is, greatest resolution R_s) is obtained at medium speeds and flow rates. The maximum sample size for a successful separation depends primarily on the type of substance. It varies from 10 to 1 000 mg per compound and per mm of layer thickness. Centrifugal TLC is superior to conventional layer chromatography. Possible improvements of the instrument are pointed out.     

Thin-layer adsorption chromatography with mixed mobile phases. 2. Effects of solute-solvent interactions and energetic heterogeneity of surfaces with regard to admolecules in TLC

In the Part 1 of this series a new equation for determining the R_m values in TLC with mixed mobile phases was proposed and examined by using the parameter m, which is a measure of energetic heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface with regard to the adsorbing molecules (admolecules). The numerical values of m, evaluated for 13 chromatographic systems, have been compared with that of the O?cik's parameter A, which characterizes solute-solvent interactions.     

Investigation of some modes of flat-bed chromatography

A comparison of different chromatographic methods is presented: column liquid chromatography (CLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), and continuous-elution flat-bed chromatography (CEFBC), which is in fact a combination of the first two methods. In CEFBC a sample is applied to a sorbent layer in a steady flow of eluent, and the components are detected directly on the layer, or immediately upon leaving it, during the separation process. It is shown that evaluation of the separation processes in CEFBC is best accomplished in terms of the parameters applicable in CLC. The reproducibility of the analytical results obtained by CEFBC is better than in the case of TLC by a factor of 6 to 10, and approaches that known for CLC.     

Improvement of separation in zonal preparative thin-layer chromatography by gradient elution

Summary Complex extracts of the plants Azulan and Hemorigen were separated by zonal micropreparative thin-layer chromatography in sandwich chambers of the ES and DS type which permitted zonal application of large volumes of sample, without auxiliary equipment. Application from the edge of the layer, in the frontal chromatography mode, markedly improved the separation efficiency and capacity owing to displacement effects which narrow the initially broad zones. Further improvement of separation efficiency and purity of fractions, revealed by densitometry, was observed using stepwise gradient elution. This was confirmed by extraction of some of the separated fractions from the layer and rechromatography; the composition of these fractions were generally simpler than for the corresponding isocratic chromatograms.     

High performance thin-layer chromatography of some sixteen-membered ring macrolide antibiotics

The use of HPTLC in the analysis of some sixteen-membered ring macrolide antibiotices was examined. In the case of Spiramycins, instrumentalized HPTLC proved to be very efficient for the separation and determination of these antibiotics. With the use of an internal standard together with the datapair technique in sampling and evaluation of the HPTLC plates, a coefficient of variation less than 1.5% could be achieved when determining the different Spiramycins. Other sixteen-membered macrolides, such as Tylosins, Turimycins and 9-Propionylmaridomycins can be separated with sufficient resolution for quantitative work, in spite of their extremely simular structures and large molecular weights. Detection is always at wavelengths which agree with the intrinsic absorption maximum of the chromophors of the components (e. g. 282 nm for Tylosins, 232 nm for Spiramycins and Turimycins, 195 nm for 9-Propionylmaridomycins).     

Electrostatic interactions in normal and reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Preliminary experiments

Summary The retention behaviour of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons having nearly equal ionization potentials but different molecular polarizability values was investigated using normal and reversed-phase high-performance TLC systems. Homologous series of hydrocarbons and n-alcohols were applied as the mobile phases. The electrostatic interactions operating in these chromatographic systems were analysed by studying the relationship between the log 1/R_F values and the molecular polarizabilities of solutes and solvents.     

Role of the solvent in thin-layer chromatography of steroids on alumina

The effects of different binary solvents on the retention behaviour of some steroids in thin-layer chromatography on alumina were studied. The slope of the linear relationship between the retention constant of the steroid and the logarithm of the volume fraction fo the polar component in the binary solvent mixture depends predominantly on the diluent. Linear relationships between the axis intercepts and slopes of particular steroids exists for all chromatographic systems examined. The slope of this relationships is a function of the retention constant of the steroid hydroxyl group.     

Study of dispersive and inductive electrostatic interactions in reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography

Summary The retention behaviour of a group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons having nearly equal ionization potentials but different molecular polarizability values was investigated using reversed-phase HPTLC. Normal alcohols were applied as the mobile phase. The relationships between the retention parameters and molecular polarizabilities of the solutes and solvents are discussed.     

Ready detection of small amounts of lactulose in dairy products by thin-layer chromatography

Summary Ready detection of lactulose in milk and in mixtures with other sugars is achieved by diluting the sample ten times with acetone and successive thin-layer chromatographic separation on silica gel-boric acid, developed with acetonitrile: water 5020. The method allows detection of up to 0.02% lactulose on total carbohydrates and permits a semi-quantitative estimation of lactulose in milk.