Liquid chromatography —columns or thin layers?

Abstract

Recent progress in liquid chromatography has developed along two independent lines —thin-layer chromatography, in which the equipment is cheap, simple and easy to use; and the complex, expensive but more powerful technique of high-performance column chromatography, which has recently emerged as a logical extension of the theories and practices developed in gas chromatography. In this paper detailed comparison of the two lines is provided, with particular emphasis placed on cost of equipment, materials and analysis, resolving power, speed and simplicity of the techniqued, suitability for automation, accuracy, precision and sensitivity in quantitative analysis and effectiveness in qualitative analysis. It is concluded that the two techniques are comlplementary; there is a genuine need for both of them and the paper tries to define the areas in which each technique is particularly powerful.