Classical silica TLC plates (TLC)

For reliable routine analysis of a broad range of substances

Unmodified silica is the most widely used sorbent in TLC, enabling the analysis of virtually any substance through a suitable choice of the mobile phase. It covers nearly 80 % of thin-layer applications for both adsorption and partition thin-layer chromatography. It enables the separation of a large range of very different substances, making it suitable for:

• In-process control in drug synthesis
• Identity and stability testing of drugs
• Quality control of pharmaceuticals, food and environmental compounds
• Residue analysis in food and environmental samples

Highest quality TLC plates with unsurpassed batch-to-batch consistency

Merck Millipore silica plates utilize proven Merck Millipore silica gel 60 with a pore diameter of 60 A, a pore volume of 0.8 ml/g and a specific surface area of 520 m2/g (BET) combined with a unique polymeric binder, resulting in a uniform and hard surface that will not crack or blister. The smooth and extremely dense surface coating ensures narrow chromatographic bands for maximum separation efficiency with lowest background noise, e.g. when performing densitometry scanning. Classical silica TLC plates have a layer thickness of 250 μm for glass or 200 μm for aluminium or plastic sheets with a mean particle size of 10 to 12 μm. Glass, aluminium or plastic backings are available in a broad range of different sizes ranging from 20 x 20 cm down to 2.5 x 7.5 cm. The flexible aluminium or plastic sheets can easily be cut with scissors to suit individual separation requirements.

For UV detection of colourless substances, two types of inorganic fluorescent indicator are available: the green fluorescing F254 or the blue fluorescing, acid-stable F254s. Both indicators fluoresce in UV light at an excitation wavelength of 254 nm. Samples which absorb shortwave UV at 254 nm are detected due to fluorescence quenching.
The special high-fluorescence LuxPlates^® contain a larger amount of fluorescent indicator for further improved detection of separated substances.

Specifications of classical TLC plates

TLC unmodified silica gel 60

Layer thickness: 250 μm | * Layer thickness: 200 μm

W: wettable with water | F245: green-fluorescent indicator | F254s: acid-stable blue-fluorescent indicator

If you are interested in an example application, please click here.