Correlation chromatography problems

Now that we have discussed the theoretical basis for correlation chromatography, let us examine some areas which may cause problems or at least, in practice, limit its application. 

The first experiments directed to trace analysis were carried out in correlation gas chromatography ( 2 ). However, in the recent years much attention was paid to correlation HPLC, because the detection is generally more a problem than in GC and because injection is inherently easier. Results with a first experimental set-up and an off-line computer calculation of the CCF were very promising. 

The study of the composition of a mixture is an extremely common problem in analytical and bioanalytical chemistry. While chromatography and solvent extraction are commonly employed to simplify the analysis prior to characterization of the constituents, NMR has provided a series of tools that help in unravelling the components of complex samples, when a previous separation of the pure compounds is not feasible or complete. Thus, TOCSY, NMR diffusometry (DOSY, among all) and heteronuclear correlation experiments are widely used to this purpose, for example, for the characterization of small molecules in biologically relevant samples, such as in metabolomics,1 plant extracts analysis,2 food quality control,3 4 to name a few cases. 

---