Adaptation of a horizontal DS chamber to planar electrochromatography in a closed system

A horizontal DS chamber for TLC has been adapted for planar electrochromatography in closed system. A test dye mixture was separated on pre-wetted RP-8 and RP-18 chromatographic plates with acetonitrile-buffer as mobile phase. A potential of 2 kV was applied to a 10-cm plate to create the electric field. Two modes of electrochromatogram development were applied - in open and closed (pressurized) systems. The disadvantages of the open system - evaporation of the mobile phase from the plate and excessive flow of mobile phase to the surface of the adsorbent layer during development - were eliminated by use of the closed system. Highly reproducible retention was achieved during planar electrochromatography in the closed system when the adsorbent layer of the plate was pre-wetted and equilibrated with a solution of the mobile phase. Examples are presented of electrochromatograms obtained from the test dye mixture under different operating conditions. Separation efficiency in planar electrochromatography was higher than in conventional HPTLC.