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The most comprehensive list of industry-leading TLC plates. All in one place.


Thin layer chromatography plates (also known as TLC plates) are an integral part of the chromatography process. The reason it’s such a popular analytical tool in labs around the world: they offer simplicity, relatively low cost, high sensitivity, and speed of separation. 


When searching for the right chromatography tool for your application, you don’t have to scroll through pages and pages anymore, wondering what the right fit is for your lab. SECO does the legwork for you. With a curated selection of only the best TLC plates from leading brands, ordering your thin layer chromatography plates, TLC developing tanks, and accessories has never been quicker or easier. 


The most popular thin layer chromatography plate among labs across? TLC plates from MilliporeSigma. They’re providing enhanced performance and highly reproducible applications, thanks to optimized separation and straining procedures. 



Who uses TLC plates?

The TLC plate is a preferred method of separation for labs across the country, thanks to the simplicity, sensitivity and rapid analysis compared to other techniques. TLC plates are essential in analyzing mixtures through compound separation, to identify both purity and quantity. 


Thin layer chromatography plates are a very popular separation technique, which uses a thin layer of stationary phase coated on a class, plastic, or aluminum plate to perform both quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis. A liquid solvent, called the mobile phase, carries the sample and separates it as it moves across the plate.  


TLC plates are perfect for use with aqueous solvents, since they’re highly stable in water. They’re used in a wide range of scientific and industrial applications, including:


  • Petrochemical 
  • Biochemistry and organic chemistry 
  • Food and beverage
  • Forensic studies
  • Cosmetics
  • Pharmaceutical


And more. TLC plates are used for:


  • Separation efficiency of biodiesel and its blends with petroleum fuel
  • Biochemical analysis, by isolating, comparing, and characterizing compounds and metabolites from blood, serum, body fluids, and urine
  • Separating and identifying different components colors, cosmetic products, sweetening and preservative agents
  • Used in stability studies in the pharmaceutical industry
  • Test body fluids for the presence of drugs 
  • Comparison of metabolites
  • Biological activities of plant compounds 

Choosing your TLC plate

For more than 90 years, SECO has distributed the TLC plates used in the world’s leading chromatography labs. Plates that are ideal for the separation and analysis of non-volatile chemical compounds, coated in solid adsorbents like silica, cellulose, and aluminum oxide. Plates with or without fluorescent indicates. Plates in various sizes. With a range of layer thickness. 


How to know what the right plate is for you?  


Choosing the right adsorbent: Silica gel is the most versatile absorbent used for TLC coating, as it covers almost all types of separation if the right solvent system is selected. Over 80% of all purifications are performed using silica gel as the adsorbent. 


Silica gel TLC plates offer excellent organic solvent resistance, and can be used with aggressive visualization reagents. Silica TLC plates can be used for both normal and reversed phase modes. And they’re easy to clean – you can easily remove compounds with a scraper blade. 


Silica gel products are ideal for a range of functionalities and polarities, including aflatoxins, alkaloids, barbiturates, fatty acids, flavonoids, glycosides, lipids, nucleosides, proteins, pesticides, sweeteners, vitamins, and more. 

Aluminum oxide (also known as alumina), are the second most commonly used in labs. They show similar selectivity to silica, with three pH ranges (basic, neutral, acidic). 


They’re commonly used in the separation of alkaloids, aliphatic compounds, aromatics, and steroids. 

Cellulose can be unmodified, or positively charged at neutral or acidic pH. 


While they are far more uncommon than silica gel products or aluminum oxide, they are most frequently used in separating hydrophilic molecules and separations of sensitive biomolecules carrying ion exchange groups. 

Best-selling silica gel plates include: 



Best-selling aluminum oxide plates include:

Best-selling cellulose plates include:


Layer thickness: The thickness of the absorbent layer is usually:

  • Between 0.1–0.25 mm for analytical purposes 
  • Between 0.5–2.0 mm for preparative TLC

Specific requirements in mind? Here’s how to find the TLC plate you’re looking for:  

Our website is set up to make your life easy. Use the convenient filters along the left-hand side of this page to sort by:

  • Diameter
  • Sheet type (HPTLC plate, PLC plate, TLC plate) 
  • Number of sheets (ranging from 12 - 100)
  • Sheet dimension 
  • Layer thickness
  • Manufacturer and brand 

What are the most popular TLC plates among labs? 

The most popular thin layer chromatography plate among labs across the country are the MilliporeSigma plates. These plates provide enhanced performance, and the applications are highly reproducible thanks to optimized separation and straining procedures.  


Bestsellers among your contemporaries include:

How does SECO choose which TLC plates to feature?

Find the most comprehensive range of world-class TLC plates in one place. Modern labs in the Northeast and across the United States turn to SECO as their one-stop shop for the best TLC plates and TLC developing tanks for every application.


You don’t need a laundry list of 35 different brands of TLC plates that may or may not work for your application. You don’t need to scroll through pages upon pages, wondering which brand of thin layer chromatography plate will deliver the quality you need in your lab. 


For nearly a century, SECO has built strong relationships with top manufacturers in the country and brought their chromatography supplies to the Northeast, so our customers get better access than anyone else. 


Diligent research, testing, and customer feedback go into each and every chromatography instrument and all new products before it ends up on our website. SECO’s short-list of chromatography equipment offers the best selection for clinical and research labs anywhere in the U.S.A. You’ll find solutions suitable for all applications of TLC plates for your sample preparation, separation, and analysis. 


With SECO, you get a TLC plate that meets all separation requirements, and delivers faster analysis, more consistent performance, higher degrees of accuracy, and replicable results. You get your TLC developing tanks and plates from world-leading manufacturers, like MilliporeSigma, knowing it was specifically identified for your specific application. 


That’s why labs across Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, DC, and the continental United States count on us for value-pricing on brand-name chromatography supplies and other products. Let us do the leg work, research, and quality control for you.

What other accessories and chromatography supplies do you need? 

And after 90 years, we know what the modern lab needs when it comes to chromatography. The most popular choices among labs in the U.S.A. include: Find the full gamut of column chromatography supplies and accessories needed in modern labs like yours, including:

Who uses chromatography supplies? 

SECO offers a comprehensive selection of the best empty or pre-packed columns and resins for analytical and preparative chromatography. Chromatography products are a staple in research and clinical laboratories around the world. These supplies are essential for a range of purposes, including creating vaccinations, food and beverage testing, drug testing, forensics, and other life science applications. 

Why choose SECO over another company? 


For 90 years, SECO has been building strong partnerships with manufacturers across the globe. Labs across Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and DC depend on us for value-pricing on brand-name products and chemicals, short delivery times, and professional integrity.  


Partner with us to get:


  • The fastest local logistics: We sweat the small stuff, and we’re good at what we do. The ordering process will be seamless, and your chromatography supplies will arrive when you need them to. 


  • Chromatographers’ choice: The number one choice for labs in the Northeast when it comes to ordering chromatography columns. With our curated selection, we take the guesswork out of your order.

  • Local inventory on everyday essentials: Avoid the hassle of wondering whether the vials you want are in stock. Or whether there are enough HPLC and GC columns for your next bulk order. Our online inventory is up-to-date, and because of our solid partnerships with manufacturers, our supply chains are strong.

  • Volume pricing available: Need to place a large order? Log into your online account and get volume pricing in real time. 

Don’t see what you’re looking for? 


If you don’t see the exact TLC plate you need, contact your SECO sales representativeso we can help you track it down.


Leverage our strong relationships with manufacturers to get a little extra help when you need it. We’ll work with you and the manufacturer to get you the technical support or application-specific pricing you need. 


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TLC Plates & Accessories

Our Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) plates are available as silica plates, aluminum TLC plates, glass TLC plates, or plastic TLC plates in a variety of plate dimensions, including our multi-format plates, and with two types of fluorescent indicators for UV detection.
We take pride in offering you a carefully curated selection from Millipore Sigma, a leading manufacturer renowned for their consistent product quality.


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TLC Developing Tanks

TLC Developing Tanks

TLC Plates

TLC Plates

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