Planar chromatography: Current status and future perspectives in pharmaceutical analysis — I. Applicability, quantitation and validation

The most important features of capillary action planar chromatographic methods are summarized. Certain properties such as case in operation, sensitivity to experimental conditions, stationary and mobile phase selection, phase system optimization, separation efficiency and detection possibilities are discussed only briefly. Other aspects such as the applicability of planar chromatographic methods in pharmaceutical analysis, quantitation and validation are considered in more detail. The advantages and limitations of different evaluation techniques (visual comparison, spot elution techniques and in situ densitometry) are also discussed. Validation steps specific to planar chromatographic methods are emphasized.