Its earlier name was High Pressure Liquid Chromatography since it involved use of liquid mobile phase requiring greater pressures than gases used in Gas Chromatography. The technique has found immense scope of applications in both industrial and academic labs requiring identification and quantification of mixtures of organic compounds. Simply spend about two to three minutes on the introductory video giving you an insight to what constitutes a HPLC system. Essentially, HPLC is an analytical technique used for the separation of elements of an organic combination of compounds when such chemicals are non-volatile, thermally unstable, and have relatively high molecular weights. A liquid carrier flow called the mobile phase serves to carry the injected sample through the separation column and into the sensor.
From the column, the individual parts are split based on physicochemical interactions, and the elution order relies on such interactions. The separated components are detected by the sensor based on the absorption of light or changes in refractive index, electrochemical/conductivity adjustments, or just the size distribution of eluting molecules. The sensor response is in the form of peaks using an area in direct ratio to the amount present. The output is assessed and assessed by the operating software which not only does mandatory calculations on the reaction but also supports working parameters such as injection volume, injection sequence, detection wavelength, wash cycles, etc. These days, the innovative features of accessible software have made operations exceptionally user-friendly. Nearly all time spent by a consumer is in mobile phase preparation, preparation of buffers and standards, and creating record entries.
Separation sciences have contributed immensely to the growth and comprehension of analytical chemistry and improved control over the quality of consumer goods such as pharmaceuticals, foods and drinks, polymers, environmental monitoring, etc. Major credit goes to chromatographic methods and HPLC particularly. Solution to what is chromatography is a popular and versatile technique that offers affordable solutions on separation, identification, and quantification of components of complex organic samples. At first sight, the assembly of complex modules along with a whole lot of tubing’s might scare you. But after gaining an insight into the use of each element, the puzzle will begin unfolding and the HPLC system will prove to be a user friendly piece of gear that should properly looked after will guarantee the maximum accuracy and reliability of results, analysis after diagnosis.