Planar chromatography at the turn of the century.

An overview of the state-of-the-art of modern thin-layer chromatography (planar chromatography) is presented with emphasis on the complementary features of thin-layer and column liquid chromatographic separations. The reasons for selecting thin-layer chromatography for a particular analysis are identified by its attributes: a disposable stationary phase; simultaneous parallel separations; static detection free of time constraints; storage device for chromatographic information; all sample components are observed in the chromatogram. Future prospects for improved separation performance in TLC using zone refocusing, forced flow and electroosmotic flow methods are discussed as well as increasing zone capacity by using two-dimensional development and coupling to column chromatographic methods. Advances in coupling thin-layer chromatography with spectroscopic methods for structural elucidation are also considered. Finally, some predictions are made for how thin-layer chromatography will be practiced in the future.