chromatography

Chromatography is the technique for the separation, purification, and testing of compounds. Chromatography is a separation method where the analyte is combined within a liquid or gaseous mobile phase., which is pumped through a stationary phase. Usually one phase is hydrophilic and the other is lipophilic. The components of the analyte interact differently with these two phases. Depending on their polarity they spend more or less time interacting with the stationary phase and are thus retarded to a greater or lesser extent. This leads to the separation of the different components present in the sample. Each sample component elutes from the stationary phase at a specific time called as retention time. As the components pass through the detector their signal is recorded and plotted in the form of a chromatogram.

types of chromatography

1. Adsorption Chromatography

In the process of adsorption chromatography, different compounds are adsorbed on the adsorbent to different degrees based on the absorptivity of the component. Here also, a mobile phase is made to move over a stationary phase, thus carrying the components with higher absorptivity to a lower distance than that with lower absorptivity

2. Thin Layer Chromatography

In the process of thin-layer chromatography (TLC), the mixture of substances is separated into its components with the help of a glass plate coated with a very thin layer of adsorbent

3. Column
Chromatography

Column chromatography is the technique used to separate the components of a mixture using a column of suitable adsorbent packed in a glass tube, as shown in the figure below. The mixture is placed on the top of the column, and an appropriate eluant is made to flow down the column slowly.

4. Partition
chromatography

In this process, a continuous differential partitioning of components of a mixture into a stationary phase and mobile phase takes place. The example of partition chromatography can be seen in paper chromatography. In this process, chromatography paper is used as a stationary phase which is suspended in a mixture of solvents that act as a mobile phase.