ABSTRACT
Direct coupling of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) was reported by Issaq et al. as early as 1977 using benz(a)pyrene and pyrene as model compounds [1]. The zones were detected under ultraviolet (UV) light on a silica gel 60 TLC plate, and a circle perimeter of 2.5 cm diameter was scored through the layer around each zone using a milling device provided as an accessory with the Eluchrom Automatic Elution System available from CAMAG until 1992. The elution head was placed over each scored adsorbent-free circle and tightly clamped on the plate forming a Teon (elution head)-glass plate seal. Quantitative elution of each zone was carried out with 0.15 mL of methanol at a 0.1 mL/min ow rate. The eluents were introduced into a Finnigan Model 3300 mass spectrometer through a specially built heated Pyrex inlet probe forming a tight seal between the Eluchrom outlet and mass spectrometer ion source.
