ABSTRACT
There is no single equipment that enables to automatically perform a full TLC/HPTLC (thin-layer chromatography/high-performance thin-layer chromatography) procedure from sample application to evaluation of data so far. Three basic stages of the thin-layer chromatography procedure can be distinguished in contemporary laboratory practice, that is, sample application onto the adsorbent layer of the chromatographic plate, chromatogram development, and chromatogram registration including data processing. One may say that these stages constitute the exibility of the TLC technique as no other in the laboratory practice. This is an advantage of TLC because each of the stages mentioned can be realized individually in a very simple way or with sophisticated equipment. Therefore, every laboratory all over the world can apply this technique independently within its budget.
