ABSTRACT
Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) remains a popular method for the analysis of natural pigments. The readily available equipment is easy to use, and operating costs are low. The progress of separation can be followed throughout the separation, the time required for completion of the process is usually short, and the results are immediately visible. Together with the robust nature of most of the systems that have been developed, these facts ensure that TLC will continue to enjoy popularity where rapid qualitative analysis required. Good separations of pigments obtained from these TLC systems are important to demonstrate chromatography to students of chemistry and biology, but the systems are also suitable for field work in biology and agriculture. It should be noted that the quantities of pigments present in most natural sources are such that TLC is often the method of choice for preparative separation. Provided that suitable precautions are taken, good quantitative analysis can often be obtained.
