Activation of Adsorbent - Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

ACTIVATION OF ADSORBENT

In fact, it is extremely important to eliminate as completely as possible the solvent imbedded into the thin layer of coated adsorbent. It is achieved conveniently first by air-drying the TLC plates for a duration of 30 minutes and then in a hot-air oven maintained at 110 °C for another 30 minutes and subsequently cooling them in a dessicator. This drying process helps a great extent in rendering the adsorbent layer active. In order to achieve very active layers, silica gel and alumina coated plates may be heated upto 150 °C for a duration of 4 hours and colling them in a dessicator.