ABSTRACT

Chemical separation is an essential component of modern research and is widely used to process complex samples. Examples range from the trace analysis of a drug or hormone in blood to the large-scale isolation of a recombinant protein. The method of liquid chromatography has become particularly popular for these separations because of its ability to work with a wide range of substances. When combined with appropriate support materials, this technique can be used in either high-performance separations for chemical detection and measurement or in systems designed to purify a desired product. The wide range of stationary phases and mobile phases that can be employed in liquid chromatography also makes this method quite flexible in terms of the types of chemical or physical properties that can be used as the basis for these separations.