Digitalize Your Analyses with the TLC Explorer

The glove-compatible touch sensors allow easy operation in typical laboratory settings. The plug-and-play experience eliminates the need for technical service support. To enhance its versatility, the instrument can function off the grid by utilizing a power bank (to be ordered separately), making it suitable for remote use.

The instrument includes a safety feature to protect against UV exposure during use. Plates (single or multiple) are securely placed on the Drawer Unit (Figure 1). The analysis only starts when the Drawer Unit is closed, ensuring no UV exposure. Additionally, the device uses more sustainable LED light sources instead of conventional lamps containing mercury.

The digital documentation system provides flexibility and convenience throughout your entire TLC measurement process. You can easily connect to the system via WiFi or by scanning a QR code, making it operable on multiple devices (Figure 2).

The intuitive software allows for TLC plate analysis without the need for time-consuming manual data processing and handling. It enables quick measurement of tracks in less than 2 minutes, with automated track recognition. Furthermore, the software facilitates simultaneous detection and measurement of multiple plates, covering an area of 20 x 20 cm (Figure 3).

The software can do an auto-image rotation in case the plate is improperly aligned prior to measurement in the device. Background noise reduction filters can be applied as needed. It also automatically pre-selects the starting line and solvent front, though manual addition and deletion of tracks, solvent, and starting line is also an option. Annotations, such as methodology details or naming conventions, can be easily added for further clarity. Moreover, the software facilitates both comparative and quantitative examinations of TLC and HPTLC plates.

The ergonomic design (Figure 6a), allows for quick examination of the plate through its inspection window (Figure 5). A shutter slider (Figure 4, F8) controls the opening to reduce disturbance from stray light entering the device while the user is looking through the inspection window. By pushing the shutter slider fully or only partially down, different parts of the baseplate can be seen.

The device has three types of excitation sources that can be easily switched on by a light tap on the touch sensitive buttons indicating the wavelengths (Figure 4, F2 – 4). However, only one of these light sources can be active at a time.