Liquid chromatography, process

Ion-exchange chromatography involves an electrostatic process which depends on the relative affinities of various types of ions for an immobilised assembly of ions of opposite charge. The stationary phase is an aqueous buffer with a fixed pH or an aqueous mixture of buffers in which the pH is continuously increased or decreased as the separation may require. This form of liquid chromatography can also be performed at high inlet pressures of liquid with increased column performances. 

At present moment, no generally feasible method exists for the large-scale production of optically pure products. Although for the separation of virtually every racemic mixture an analytical method is available (gas chromatography, liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis), this is not the case for the separation of racemic mixtures on an industrial scale. The most widely applied method for the separation of racemic mixtures is diastereomeric salt crystallization [1]. However, this usually requires many steps, making the process complicated and inducing considerable losses of valuable product. In order to avoid the problems associated with diastereomeric salt crystallization, membrane-based processes may be considered as a viable alternative. 

At the current time, there is considerable interest in the preparative applications of liquid chromatography. In order to enhance the chromatographic process, attention is now focused on the choice of the operating mode [22]. SMB offers an alternative to classical processes (batch elution chromatography) in order to minimize solvent consumption and to maximize productivity where expensive stationary phases are used. 

Chromatography is a separation process employed for the separation of mixtures of substances. It is widely used for the identification of the components of mixtures, but as explained in Chapters 8 and 9, it is often possible to use the procedure to make quantitative determinations, particularly when using Gas Chromatography (GC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). 

Detectors. The function of the detector in HPLC is to monitor the mobile phase as it emerges from the column. The detection process in liquid chromatography has presented more problems than in gas chromatography there is, for example no equivalent to the universal flame ionisation detector of gas chromatography for use in liquid chromatography. Suitable detectors can be broadly divided into the following two classes ... 

Pulsed amperometric detection (PAD), introduced by Johnson and LaCourse (64, 65) has greatly enhanced the scope of liquid chromatography/electrochemistry (66). This detection mode overcomes the problem of loss of activity of noble metal electrodes associated with the fixed-potential detection of compounds such as carbohydrates, alcohols, amino acids, or aldehydes. Pulsed amperometric detection couples tlie process of anodic detection with anodic cleaning and cathodic reactivation of a noble metal electrode, thus assuring a continuously cleaned and active... 

Schwartz, S.J., Woo, S.L., and Von Elbe, J.H., High-performance liquid chromatography of chlorophylls and their derivatives in fresh and processed spinach, J. Agric. Food Ghem., 29, 533, 1981. 

Section I of this book includes chapters on the principles and practice of PLC. After this introductory Chapter 1, Chapter 2 provides information on efforts undertaken to date in order to establish the theoretical foundations of PLC. With growing availability and popularity of modem computer-aided densitometers, separation results can be obtained in digital form as a series of concentration profiles that can be relatively easily assessed and processed. From these, relevant conclusions can be drawn in exactly the same manner as in automated column chromatographic techniques. Efforts undertaken to build a theoretical foundation of PLC largely consist of adaptation of known strategies (with their validity confirmed in preparative column liquid chromatography) to the working conditions of PLC systems. 

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