Mobile-Friendly Web Tool for Thin-Layer Chromatography Analysis

Introduction: Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) remains a widely used analytical technique. Low-cost solutions are crucial for analyzing compounds like drugs in low- and middle-income regions. However, the availability of mobile-optimized tools for TLC analysis is still limited. We developed an installation-free, web-based application for rapid TLC plate analysis, compatible with smartphones and other devices.

Methods: The tool was developed iteratively to ensure smooth browser performance on mobile and desktop devices, manual correction at each processing stage, export of intermediate results, and support for both qualitative and quantitative analysis, including chromatographic parameter calculations (retardation factor, retention factor, selectivity, resolution, asymmetry, system efficiency). The application was validated and tested based on TLC analyses of selected food colours and psychotropic drugs in different chromatographic systems (different mobile and stationary phases—silica gel and C18) and compared with other existing software (such as Sorbfil TLC, TLCyzer) and manual evaluation. All analyses were performed in triplicate.

Results: Compared to Sorbfil TLC and manual evaluation, the tool achieved relative errors between 0.3% and 1.7%. The average processing time was 1 minute per plate, comparable to TLCyzer, with per-track time decreasing as the number of tracks increased. The application has been successfully applied to the analysis of selected food dyes and pharmaceuticals, enabling the calculation of various chromatographic parameters necessary for chromatographic system optimization. The tool has also been used for teaching purposes at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rzeszów.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that integrating TLC with a web-based application offers a cost-effective, portable, and reliable method for chromatographic analysis. Its broader analytical capabilities and user-focused design make it suitable for optimising TLC systems, drug detection, and teaching purposes.