CAMAG TLC-MS Interface is a versatile instrument to extract compounds from a TLC/HPTLC plate and feed them into a mass spectrometer for substance identification or structure elucidation. It can be connected to any brand of LC-coupled mass spectrometer.

Surveys have shown that not all samples may be processed by HPLC-MS or HPLC-DAD systems because of no or low detection of the compounds or impurities in the UV range, a heavy matrix load or a lack of MS compatible solvents, however necessary for the HPLC separation. Alternatively HPTLC is a very fast and convenient method to separate samples. In the past unknown substances were scraped off from TLC/HPTLC plate, eluted into a tube and transferred into the MS. The universal TLC-MS Interface can now semi-automatically extract zones of interest and direct them online into a any brand of HPLC-MS system.

The device is quickly and easily connected (by two fittings) to any LC-coupled mass spectrometer without adjustments or mass spectrometer modifications. Questioned substances are directly extracted from a TLC/HPTLC plate and sensitive mass spectrometric signals are obtained within a minute per substance zone. The interface extracts the complete substance zone with its depth profile and thus allows detections comparable to HPLC down to the pg/zone range. CAMAG TLC-MS Interface extracts circular zones of 4 mm diameter or oval zones 2 mm x 4 mm from a TLC/HPTLC plate; for example with methanol or any other appropriate solvent, using the standard flow speed of the HPLC-MS system (e.g. 0.1 mL/min).

Further information available at CAMAG Switzerland: www.camag.com/tlc-ms or sales@camag.com.