Applications for Size-Exclusion Chromatography

Because SEC is a gentle technique, rarely resulting in loss of sample or reaction, it has become a popular choice for the separation of biologically active molecules. Each solute is retained as a relatively narrow band, which facilitates solute detection with detectors of only moderate sensitivity. Examples of analytes that can be analyzed by SEC are listed in Table 2.7. Possible stationary phases and mobile phases are also provided in Table 2.7. 

One of the major applications of SEC is polymer characterization. As many of the properties that characterize a polymer, including hardness, brittleness, and tensile strength, are related to the molecular weight distribution, GPC can be used to identify subtle differences between polymer materials. The GPC technique can also be used as an alternative to reversed-phase LC for samples, such as creams, ointments, and lotions. These samples contain high levels of hydrophobic materials, such as triglycerides, which could bind strongly to the reversed-phase column and cause column fouling. 

---