ABSTRACT
The benefit of using TLC for identification of unknown vitamins and related compounds by comparing Rf values of the unknown compounds with those of authentic vitamins is beyond doubt. The quantification of the separated vitamins can be performed by the use of modern densitometry. TLC as a powerful separation and analytic tool is used particularly for pharmaceutical preparations and food products. Because amounts of most hydrophilic vitamins are low or very low in tissue or body fluid, bioautography or derivatization is used before densitometry. Various high-quality precoated plates with small, uniform particle diameters are available for TLC or high-performance TLC (HPTLC). Stationary phases of silica gel, cellulose, or various reversed phases are available. TLC has great advantages (simplicity, flexibility, speed, and relatively low cost) for the separation and analysis of hydrophilic vitamins.
