Optimization of thin layer chromatography for toxicological screening: applicability of shorter development distances

Over the years, numerous TLC systems have been developed, each of them having their special advantages. Yet little or no attention has been paid to the time-factor needed to obtain sufficiently reliable Rf-values, combined with satisfactory resolution. As speed remains an important factor in toxicology, the applicability of shorter development distances have been investigated, resulting in a considerable gain in time as the development times increase exponentially with developing distance. In this paper, the effects of shorter development distances on resolution, spot size, reproducibility of Rf-values, and sensitivity of detection are described.