Fundamentals and General Terminology

Andreas Seidel-Morgenstern, Michael Schulte, and Achim Epping  

This chapter introduces fundamental aspects and basic equations for the characterization of chromatographic separations. Starting from the simple description of an analytical separation of different compounds, the influences of fluid dynamics, mass transfer, and thermodynamics are explained. The important separation characteristics for preparative and process chromatography, for example, the optimization of resolution and productivity as vell as the differences compared with chromatography for analytical purposes, are described. The importance of understanding the behavior of substances in the nonlinear range of the adsorption isotherm is highlighted. 

One further goal of this chapter is to contribute to the harmonization of general chromatographic terms between engineers and chemists. 

Chromatography belongs to the thermal separation processes used to separate 

1) In addition to the initially homogeneous mixture phase, a second phase is generated by introduction of energy (e.g., during distillation) or an additive (e.g., during extraction or adsorption). 

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Schulte, M, and Epping, A. (2005) Fundamentals and general terminology, in Preparative Chromatography. 1st edn (ed. H. Schmidt-Traub), Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, pp. 9-49. 

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