HPTLC

(High performance thin layer

chromatography)

Presented by- Anupriya Singh

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M.pharm-1st year
 Content-
• Content-

• introduction
• Principle
• Instrumentation
• Difference between TLC and HPTLC
• Steps involving in HPTLC
• Factors influencing separation and resolution of
spots
• Applications of HPTLC
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• Introduction- .
.

• HPTLC (High performance thin layer chromatography) is

the automated, sophisticated form and improved
method of TLC.
• It is a powerful analytical method equally suitable for
qualitative and quantitative analytical tasks.
• It is also known as planer or flat bed chromatography.
• HPTLC is very popular for many reasons such as-
• Visual chromatogram,
• Multiple sample handling,
• Enables the most complicated separation,
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 .

• Detection limit in nanogram range with UV-

absorption detection and in picogram range with
fluorimetric detection.
• Large no of theoretical plates in minimum area of
plates .
• Analysis time is greatly redused in HPTLC due to
shorter migration distant.
• Higher efficiency due to smaller particle size(5 μm).

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• Principle- .

• Same theoretical principle of TLC (Adsorption

chromatography ) i.e. the principle of separation is
adsorption.
• Mobile phase flow by capillary action effect .
• And component move according to their affinities towards
the adsorbent.
• The component with higher affinity toward adsorbent travels
slowly.
• And the component with lesser affinity towards the
stationary phase travels faster.
• Thus the components are separated on a chromatographic
plate according to their affinity and seperation also based on
their solubility in mobile phase. 5
 Instrumentation of HPTLC-

Applicator

Autometic developing chamber

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Digital camera for photo documentation Scanner
 Difference between TLC and HPTLC-
parameters TLC HPTLC
•Chromatographic plate used Hand made Pre-coated
•Sorbent layer thickness 250μm 100-200μm
•Pre-washing of plates Not followed must
•Application of sample Manual automatic
•Shape spot Spot/band
•Sample volume 1-10μl 0.2-5μl
•Efficiency Low High

•Analysis time Slow Greatly reduced

•Development chamber More amount of solvent Less amount of solvent
•Spots size 2-4mm 0.5-1mm
•Scanning Not possible Use of UV/ Visible/
Fluorescence
scanner (densitometer)

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Steps involving in HPTLC-

Selection of chromatographic
plates

Layer pre-washing

Activation of pre-coated plates

Sample preparation and

application

Selection of mobile phase

Pre-conditioning

Chromatographic development and drying

Detection and visulization

Documentation
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1. Selection of chromatographic plates-

• Hand made plates which are made up of cellulose and other

materials which are not used much now a day.

• Pre-coated plates- The plates with different support

materials and sorbent layers with different format and
thickness are used for qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Support materials used in plates- Glass
Polyester/polyethylyne
Aluminium
• Sorbents used in plates-Silica gel 60F, Aluminium oxide,
Cellulose, silica gel chemically modified –a)amino group(NH2),
b) CN group
• Smaller particle size of silica helps in greater resolution and
sensitivity. 9
2. Layer pre-washing-
• It is purification step.
• The main purpose of the pre-washing is to remove impurities
which include water vapours and other volatile substances from
the atmosphere when they get exposed in the lab environment.
• In case of silica 60F( most widely used sorbent) the major
disadvantage of this sorbent is that it contain iron as impurity.
• This iron is removed by using Methanol : water (9:1), this is the
major advantage of the step of pre-washing.
• Some common methods are- Asending
Dipping
Continuous
• Solvents used for pre-washing-
Methanol
Chloroform:Methanol ( 1:1)
Choloroform: Methanol: Ammonia (90:10:1 ) 10
3.Activation of pre coated plates-
• Freshly opened box of HPTLC plates doesn’t need
activation.
• If plates exposed to high humidity or kept in hand for
longer time then activation is required and it’s
activation results by removing moisture.
• The plates are activated by placing in an oven at 110­
1200 C for 30 min, this step will removes water that has
been physically absorbed on surface at solvent layer.
• Activation at higher temp and for longer time is
avoided which leads to very active layer and there is risk
of sample being decomposed.

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4.Sample preparation and application-
Sample preparation-

• It’s important to prepare proper sample for successful

separation.
• Sample and reference substances should be dissolved in the
same solvent to ensure comparable distribution at starting
zones.
• It needs a high concentrated solution,as very less amount of
sample need to be applied.
• After that dry the plates and store in dust free atmosphere.
• Solvents used are-
• Methanol,
• Chloroform: Methanol (1:1),
• Ethyl acetate: Methanol (1:1),
• Chloroform: Methanol: Ammonia (90:!0:1),
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 Sample application-
• Usual concentration range is 0.1-1µg / µl,above this causes poor
separation and volume recommended for HPTLC-0.5-5μl .
• The size of sample spot applied must not exceed 1mm in diameter.
• Problem from overloading can be overcome by applying the sample
as band.
• Some applicators used for application of sample-
Selection of applicator to be used depends on-
-Sample volume
-No. of sample to be applied

a) Capillary tubes
b) Micro bulb pipettes.
c) Micro syringes.
d)Automatic sample applicator.
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Capillary. tube

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Micro syringes Autometic sample applicator
 .

• The major criteria is that they shouldn’t damage the

surface while applying sample.
• The sample are completely transfer to the layer.
• Advantage of application of sample as bands are-
Better seperation due to rectengular shape.
Response of densitometer is higher in case of
band because of uniform distribution of sample in
band.

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5.Selection of mobile phase-
• Chemical properties of analytes and sorbent layer factors
should be considered while selection of mobile phase.
• Various components of Mobile Phase should be measured
separately and then placed in mixing vessel.
• The less amount of mobile phase is required then TLC .
• This prevents contamination of solvents and also error arising
from volumes expansion or contraction on mixing.
• Multi component mobile phase once used not recommonded
for further use due to diffirent evaporation and adsorption by
layer.

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6.Pre-conditioning (chamber saturation)-
• Un- saturated chamber causes high Rf values.
• Saturated chamber by lining with filter paper for
30min prior to development-uniform distribution of
solvent vapours-less solvent for the sample to
travel-lower RF values
• For low polarity mobile phase there is no need of
saturation.However saturation is needed for highly
polar mobile phase.
• Chamber saturation influence separation profile.

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 7.Chromatographic development and drying-
• Plates are spotted with sample and air dried and placed in the
developing chambers.
• The different methods used for development of chambers are
like-
Ascending
Descending
Horizontal
• Autometic multiple development,Circular, anti-circular device
and multiple developments are some other methods.
• After development, remove the plate and mobile phase is
removed from the plate to avoid contamination of lab
atmosphere.
• Dry in vacuum desiccators with protection from heat and
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light.
 .

Autometic multiple development

Autometic multiple development

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Twin trough chamber Horizontal development
8.Detection and visulization-
• Detection under UV light is first choice.

• Non destructive and spots of fluorescent compounds

can be seen at 254 nm (short wave length) or at 366
nm (long wave length).

• Spots of non fluorescent compounds can be seen

fluorescent stationary phase is used - silica gel Gf.

• Non UV absorbing compounds like ethambutol,

dicylomine dipping the plates in 0.1% iodine solution .
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 Detectors- Diode –array detectors

• .

UV cabinet

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•Instrumentation-
Detector consists of following-

Lamp selector
Entrance lens slit
Monochromator entrance slit
Grating
Mirror
Slit aperture disc
Mirror
Beam splitter
Reference photo multiplier
Measuring photo multiplier
Photo diode for transmission measurements.
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9.Scanning and documentation-
Scanning-
• The scanner converts band into peak and peak hieght
or area is related to the concentration of substance on
spot/band.
• The peak height and area under spot are measured by
instrument and recorded .

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Scanner
Documentation-
• Documentation is important because labeling every
single chromatogram can avoid mistake in respect of
order of application.
• Type of plate, chamber system, composition of
mobile phase, running time and detection method
should be recorded.

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Factor affecting HPTLC
• Types of stationary phase.
• Mobile phase
• Layer thickness
• Temperature
• Mode of development
• Amount of sample
• Dipping zone, etc.

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 Applications of HPTLC
• Pharmaceutical industry- Quality control,identity purity test etc.
• Food Analysis- : Quality control , additives , pesticides ,stability testing
etc.
• Clinical Applications- Metabolism studies , drug screening ,stability
testing etc
• Industrial Applications- Process development and optimization etc.
• Forensic- Poisoning investigations
• Biomedical Analysis- Seperation of gangliosides
• Environment Analysis-Pesticides in drinking water etc.
• Cosmetics- Hydrocortisone & cinchocaine in lanolin ointment etc.
• Natural products ,plant ingredients- Glycosides in herbal
drugs,Piperine in piper longum etc.
• Finger print Analysis-Finger prints for identification of liquorice,
ginseng etc.
• Analysis of drugs in blood-
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 .

Thank You…

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