Separation Science: An Introduction to Chromatography

Abstract

This paper gives an overview on separation science: an introduction to chromatography. Chromatography is a lab technique used to separate mixtures into individual components. The term "chromatography" comes from the Greek word "chroma," meaning color. It's based on the principle that different components of a mixture interact differently with a stationary phase and a mobile phase, allowing them to be separated. The technique has a rich history, dating back to 1901 when Mikhail Semyonovich, a Russian botanist, first used it to separate plant pigments. Since then, chromatography has evolved, and various types have been developed, including:  Paper chromatography, where a mixture is separated on a paper strip;  Thin layer chromatography, which uses a thin layer of adsorbent;  Column chromatography, where a mixture is separated in a vertical glass column Gas chromatography, which uses a gas as the mobile phase; Ion exchange chromatography, which separates compounds based on charge; Affinity chromatography, which uses selective interactions between molecules’ Chromatography works on the principle of partitioning, where components of a mixture distribute themselves between the stationary and mobile phases. The retention time or retention factor is used to identify and quantify the separated components. Chromatography is widely used in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and environmental science, for separation, purification, and analysis of complex mixtures.