ABSTRACT
The origin of thin layer chromatography is a little obscure but appears to have been first developed and utilized by Schraiber in 1939. Schraiber working with Izmailov at the Khar’kov Chemistry and Pharmacy Research Institute employed the techniques for the analysis of pharmaceuticals. The apparatus is very similar to that used for normal development but a separate reservoir contains the developing solvent. The plate chamber contains a separate small reservoir to contain the developing solvent with a tube through which it can be filled. The solvent with which the plate is to be equilibrated is placed in the bottom of the chamber and the thin layer plate placed in the small empty reservoir that will be used to contain the developing solvent. The normal development of a thin layer plate is limited by its physical dimensions but a continuous development procedure has been used employing special equipment.
