Schleicher & Schuell, Inc.

Michael J Siebengartner

Richard D Kremer

A device for spotting samples at spaced locations on the adsorbent surface of a TLC (thin-layer chromatography) plate has a base with an elevated, flat TLC plate supporting area and an adjacent stepped down solvent trough containing area separated by a step. A wicking plate, having a number of wick-holding wells, is adapted to be positioned over the trough with the wicks dipping in the trough and the upper ends of the wicks adapted to engage the adsorbent surface of a TLC plate lowered against them. A novel wick of porous polyethylene may be pre-loaded with sample and dried before being loaded into the wicking plate. The base has spaced extensions defining a cut-out over which the wicking plate can be laid for loading, being appropriately positioned by pins extending from one of its long sides engaging the step on the base. When reversed, the non-pin-containing long side of the wicking plate engages the step and positions it over the trough. The invention includes the novel method of spotting a TLC plate employing the new device.

Growing community of inventors

Del Mar, CA, United States of America

Michael J Siebengartner