Ready-to-use layers for HPTLC glass plates
In addition to TLC ready-to-use layers with standard silica coating we manufacture high performance ready-to-use layers (HPTLC) under the name “Nano silica”. The adsorbent, as in HPLC, is narrowly fractionated. We use mean particle sizes of 2 – 10 μm.

Key features of HPTLC plates:
- sharper separations due to small particle size and narrow fractionation. Theoretical plate heights (h values) are considerably smaller than those of the standard TLC plate. In addition diffusion and – as a consequence – band broadening are much lower.
- shorter developing times and shorter migration distances.

After only a few centimeters an optimal separation is achieved.
- smaller samples of 0.01 – 0.1 μl (10 – 100 nanoliters).

The samples applied are considerably smaller than with standard plates, thus it is possible to apply a large number of samples to a very small surface area, without samples interfering with each other.
- increased detection sensitivity (nanogram level, hence nano plate). With fluorescence evaluation pictogram quantities can be detected.

HPTLC silica glass plates:
Silica 60, specific surface (BET) ~ 500 m²/g, mean pore size 60 Å, specific pore volume 0.75 ml/g, thickness of layer 0.20 mm

As fluorescent indicator we use manganese activated zinc silicate for short-wave UV light of 254 nm. As binder we add a highly polymeric product, which is stable in almost all organic solvents and towards aggressive visualisation reagents.