Derivatisation is often necessary after the separation. In this process, chemicals (reagents) are applied to the TLC/HPTLC plate and a chemical reaction causes the substances to become visible or change their colour which were previously visible under UV or white light. This colour information helps to identify the substances.
There are three different ways to apply the reagents: dipping and spraying.
A dipping chamber is a container made of glass with a small slit in which the reagent is filled and the TLC/HPTLC plate is immersed. The main advantages are no air pollution by spraying dust as well as homogeneous wetting. The reagent should be used quickly and therefore, the dipping chamber is a good tool for treating many plates with the same reagent in a short time period.
Derivapress bases on the dipping method. In fact, the reagent is completely applied to the plate as if you had dipped the plates in a tank. The Derivapress enables homogeneous spraying of the TLC plate without aerosols and therefore, it is very workplace-friendly.
Spraying techniques are usually more reagent-saving but produce a dust that needs to be exhausted. Furthermore, the operator should have experience with the used equipment to minimize inhomogeneities on the plates. We offer three different spraying instruments for various demands.
The atomizers are the most cost-effective products. The test tube atomizer is suited for small volumes up to 12 mL reagent wheras the special atomizer is perfect for up to 100 mL due to its erlenmayer flask. Both work with a rubber ball as an air pump source. The advantage is that they work without electricity and therfore can be used everywhere.
More elegant and of higher accuracy is the battery/accumulator-driven sprayer SGe1. It has a high-performance pump which generates a constant airflow and thus leads to higher homogeneity of the spray pattern all over the plate. The reagent bottle has a volume of 50 mL and the nozzle is made of chemical-resistant PTFE. The battery version is equipped with a charging unit.
Both, atomizer and the SGe1 should be used in a ventilator-operated spray box that exhaust the aerosols. This protects the laboratory environment as well as the operator. The ventilator conducts the fumes by a tube connector to a fume cupboard.
The ChromaJet DS20 is our top instrument for the application of derivatization reagents. It is PC-programmable and delivers highly accurate and reproducible results independent of the operator. It has an integrated ventilator with hose to exhaust the aerosols. After loading up to four methods by PC, it can work as a stand-alone device. It is equipped with five reagent containers and a rack that holds the supply tubes. It sprays with an extremely fine mist and therefore, it is very reagent-saving. In addition, a transparent protective cover allows a precise observation during the spraying process and prevents the escape of aerosols.
The final step in derivatization is often the heating of the plate to complete the chemical reaction. Our new Thermoplate S Plus is very easy to handle and programmable with nine methods. The colored keypad allows you to make many settings such as a color change when the surface becomes hot. It is located in the front for a comfortable use. The heating plate is made of aluminum and has an extremely homogeneous temperature distribution which ensures the best results over the entire plate.