Search

Abstract: Ultrathin layer chromatography (UTLC) is a relatively new variant of thin layer chromatography, with a 10 m thick monolithic silica sorbent layer that gives faster separations with lower limits of detection and reduced analyte and solvent volumes. We have produced UTLC plates with controllable nanostructure and thickness, and show that the layer separation characteristics depends on the film nanostructure. We also show that layers made with in-plane anisotropic nanostructures will exhibit a decoupling effect, where the analyte spots do not develop in the same direction as the solvent front movement. The added layer morphology and material selection adds a degree of freedom to UTLC, and may have applications in multi-dimensional TLC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Study of anisotropic SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, and ZrO2 GLAD UTLC stationary phases. [•] Chromatographic merits evaluated using carotenoid and food dye mixtures. [•] Separation performance depended on material, oxidation heat treatments, and UV irradiation. [•] First successful GLAD UTLC–ESI-MS recording of dyes on inorganic ultrathin films. [•] New GLAD UTLC layers may separate samples better than traditional miniaturized sorbents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]