Past, Present, and Future Application of Paper and Thin-Layer Chromatography for Determining Pesticide Residues

The past and present uses of paper and thin-layer chromatography have been confined largely to qualitative identification and semiquantitative estimation. Developments in optical scanning instrumentation and refinements in spotting techniques have endeavored to show that these methods of analysis can be quantitative. The precision and accuracy of this approach are dependent upon uniformity of chromatographic layer, uniform spotting of samples and standards, and uniform application of chromogenic reagents. These new investigations were undertaken so an alternate quantitative method of analysis would be available for pesticide residue analysis.