Chromatography capacity, single-line

Coupled-column separations or multidimensional chromatography can be considered as a sample preparation form, as one column is used to derive fractions for the second column. It provides a two dimensional separation in which sample substances are distributed over a retention plane formed by the operation of two independent columns. This type of two dimensional based separation method is more powerful than a single dimensional based one. A retention plane has more peak capacity than a retention line and so can accommodate much more complex mixtures. Component identification is more reliable because each substance has two identifying retention measures rather than one. These type of combinations offer high selectivity and high sensitivity, and could be used with less expensive and more robust detectors (e.g., flame ionization). ... 

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