Over Pressured Layer Chromatography (OPLC)

Over Pressured Layer Chromatography (OPLC) About

 

HTSorbcolumns from M/s. JC Scientific Co., Ltd.,permit many kinds of analyses with a wide array of sample types. Depending on the sorbent phase, fast, innovative separations may be obtainedwith crude or purified samples.

 

OPLC(Over Pressured Layer Chromatography) is a planarchromatography technique that is well adapted to high throughput screening andsemi-preparative applications. It uses a forced flow of eluent at a constantand programmed flow rate delivered across a flat sorbent bed on which 50 barspressure is applied. This approach provides a number of significant benefitsincluding:

 

• High chromatographic resolution and efficiency with excellent reproducibility
• Reduced sample preparation or even no sample prep allowing analysis of crude and complex mixtures
• High quantity/volume sample loading (up to 10x as much as HPLC)
• Up to 96 samples separated in parallel in a single run in off-line mode and 8 samples in on-line mode
• Complete visualization of eluted and non-eluted compounds
• Easy method development by monitoring separation progression in real time
• On-line detection to provide semi-prep capabilities and hyphenation to all HPLC detectors including UV/Vis, DAD, ELSD, MS, RMN, Fluorescence etc.
• Off-line detection with densitometry or other off-line detection techniques such as DAR or PIT
• Easy scale-up from analytical to semi preparative scale up to 200 mg loading
• Fast separation (5 to 20 min per run) at programmed flow rates between 1 L/min and 10 mL/min resulting in less diffusion
• Enhanced 2D capabilities to fingerprint sample content more easily
• Inexpensive disposable and re-usable columns and 10 to 1000x less mobile phase consumption than HPLC

 

Typicalapplications of OPLC include the separation and purification at the 0-200 mgscale of compounds of pharmacological interest from natural products orreaction mixtures coming from organic synthesis, parallel synthesis,combinatorial chemistry, medicinal chemistry, catalysis to the discovery of newactive substances and the optimisation of leads, bioautographic analyses tospeed up research of active substances such as new antibiotics and antifungals, high performance preparative separation for NMR to compensate for lowsensitivity, determination of impurities in pharmaceutical products (QC),cleaning validation of manufacturing vessels to reduce idle time by a factor ofup to 30, in-process purity control, development of new manufacturing processes,isolation of metabolites and drug screening in biological fluids, extraction ofcompounds from complex matrices (explosives, cosmetics ) with minimal samplepreparation and many more.

 

M/s.JC Scientific Co., Ltd., Hong Kongprovides a broadrange of instrumentation and stationary phases for OPLC, including:

 

Personal OSU 50 Purification Unit : Aseparation chamber that contains a pressurized stationary phase for theseparation. The stationary phase can be reused several tens to several hundredtimes. The mobile phase can be delivered to the chamber via any HPLC pump,making this unit ideal for the chromatographer who wants to incorporate thetechnique into existing instrumentation in the most efficient and costeffective manner for on-line analysis without risking clogging expensive HPLCcolumns and without changing the user habits since the OSU 50 behaves as anHPLC column. This instrument can be used off-line by stopping the flow beforethe fractions elutes.

 

Otherinstruments to spot samples at high throughput, spray reagents automatically and reproduciblyand detect the separated substances are alsoavailable. Finally a broad variety of columns for OPLC, including normal phasesilica, reverse phase and a number of polar phases including amino, diol,cyano, chiral and ion exchange is available from M/s.JC Scientific Co., Ltd.,. Hong Kong.

 

The combinationof the reasonable investment, the low price of the columns and theirreusability in on-line mode, the consumption of eluent up to several 100 timesas low as in HPLC and the possibility to separate crude and complex samples ofvarious origins, position OPLC as a tool that complements HPLC, TLC and FlashChromatography to realize certain types of separations more quickly and moreeconomically.

Advanced Separation with Over Pressured Chromatography

OPLC enhances chromatographic separations by applying external pressure, ensuring fast, high-resolution results. This technique reduces solvent consumption and evaporative loss, making it more sustainable and reproducible compared to conventional TLC or open-chamber methods. The closed stainless steel chamber is designed for durability and chemical stability.


User-Friendly Design and Versatile Configuration

Engineered for easy operation, OPLC accepts standard 200 x 200 mm plates and features manual controls for precise pressure regulation. The chamber supports both manual spotting and automated sample applicators, while straightforward assembly and disassembly facilitate routine cleaning and maintenance.


Practical Laboratory Integration

Compatible with common HPLC pumps and suitable for solvent reservoirs up to 500 mL, OPLC systems integrate seamlessly into modern laboratories. Chromatogram visualization is supported via external UV detection or post-run staining, and optional accessoriessuch as heating blocksexpand versatility.