You wish to carry out a chromatographic analysis
What is a chromatographic analysis?
Chromatographic analysis is a physico-chemical method for separating the different components of a mixture. It is based on the differential distribution of substances between two phases: a stationary phase and a mobile phase.
How chromatographic analysis works
The principle of chromatography is based on the difference in affinity of the mixture's components for the stationary phase and the mobile phase. The sample to be analyzed is first introduced into the chromatographic system.
- Mobile phase: This is a fluid (liquid or gas) that carries the sample through the system.
- Stationary phase: This is a fixed material (solid or liquid immobilized on a support) that interacts with the sample components.
The different components of the mixture migrate at different speeds. Those with a strong affinity for the stationary phase are retained longer and move more slowly, while those with a greater affinity for the mobile phase move more quickly. This difference in migration speed allows them to be separated and detected individually at the system outlet.
FILAB, expert in chromatographic analysis, supports you in your analysis
The different types of chromatographic analysis carried out at FILAB
There are several types of chromatography, classified according to the state of the mobile phase:
- Gas Chromatography (GC): this applies to volatile molecules, and the mobile phase is an inert gas (He, Hydrogen, etc.)
- Liquid Chromatography (LC): this applies to high-molecular-weight, water-soluble molecules, and the mobile phase is a liquid
- Ionic Liquid Chromatography (LIC): this applies to ions (anions or cations), and the mobile phase is a liquid
For even greater precision: our chromatography techniques are coupled with detectors
FAQ
Chromatography is an essential laboratory method for many reasons:
- Qualitative analysis: it identifies the nature of the substances present in a sample.
- Quantitative analysis: it determines the quantity of each substance in a mixture.
- Purification: it can be used to isolate a specific compound from a complex mixture.
This technique is crucial in fields such as drug quality control.
A standard chromatography system consists of:
- An injector: to introduce the sample into the system.
- A column: which contains the stationary phase and where the separation takes place.
- An oven (in GC) or a pump (in HPLC): to control the temperature or flow rate of the mobile phase.
- A detector: which measures the compounds at the column outlet.
- A data acquisition system: to record and analyze the detector signal, producing a chromatogram.
A chromatogram is the graphical result of a chromatographic analysis. It represents the detector signal as a function of time. Each peak on the chromatogram corresponds to a separate and identified compound. The peak position (retention time) and its area are crucial information for qualitative and quantitative analysis.
