Microcrystalline cellulose triacetate (CTA) was prepared by heterogeneous acetylation of microcrystalline cellulose and used as liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phase and chiral thin layer plate to separate pharmaceutical enantiomers. The racemic Troegor's base, mathaqualone, chlormezanone and chloroquine were separated on the CTA chiral column and on the CTA chiral plate. 95% ethanol and the mixtures of 95% ethanol and water with different ratio and different pH values were used as mobile phase. The influences of eluent composition, pH and temperature on the chiral separation were discussed. The experimental results indicate that the CTA chiral plate was more sensitive to eluent composition and pH than chiral column possibly because the chiral adsorbent was not swollen on the plate.