title: Thin-layer chromatography: challenges and opportunities.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to identify core technologies with the potential to influence the development of thin-layer chromatography over the next decade or so. Core technologies are identified as: (i) methods to provide a constant and optimum mobile phase velocity (forced flow and electroosmotically-driven flow), (ii) video densitometry for recording multidimensional chromatograms, (iii) in situ scanning mass spectrometry, and (iv) bioactivity monitoring for selective detection. In combination with two-dimensional, multiple development and coupled column-layer separation techniques these core technologies could dramatically increase the use of thin-layer chromatography for the characterization of complex mixtures. It is also demonstrated that thin-layer chromatography has strong potential as a surrogate chromatographic model for estimating biopartitioning properties. To convert these opportunities into practice the current state-of-the-art of the core technologies is described and the principle obstacles to progress identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. cfp@chem.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Colin F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Poole
mesh_terms: D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D013058:Mass Spectrometry