Chromatography: History, Types, Application and Advancements.

 CHROMATOGRAPHY


To separate the mixture, a physical method is used, it is chromatography.A mobile phase in which a mixture is dissolved, is passed through  a stationary phase.During this, different components of the mixture travel through the stationary phase at different rates, depending on their affinity and solubility for the stationary phase, the components of the mixture are separated.


History of Chromatography


In the 19th century's 1803, the French botanist Michel-Eugène Chevreul used a process to separate the pigments in plant extracts,termed paper chromatography.However, chromatography was not  began to be developed into a more sophisticated analytical technique till 20th century. 


In the year 1900, the Russian botanist Mikhail Tsvet developed a column of powdered alumina to  separate plant pigments. He termed this technique "chromatography", from the Greek words "chroma"  means "color" and "graphein" means "to write".  Tsvet's work  prepared the base for the development of modern chromatography. 


After that, a lot of different types of chromatography were developed and started to be used, including gas chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These techniques have applied in a wide range of analytical fields, including biochemistry, chemistry, biology, environment and medicine.


Types of Chromatography


Many different types of chromatography have been developed and used. They have their own advantages and disadvantages. The most common types of chromatography include:


Gas chromatography (GC): In GC, a gaseous mobile phase and a solid stationary phase have been used to separate the mixture. GC is often used to analyze volatile compounds, such as organic solvents and hydrocarbons. To analyze components, GC has been  connected with detectors like FID, MS etc, as per requirement.


Liquid chromatography (LC):  A liquid mobile phase and a solid or liquid stationary phase have been used. Non-volatile compounds are analyzed using LC, such as proteins and peptides.Generally LC has been connected with a UV/VIS detector in most of the analysis. However, Detectors like MS, PDA etc. are also used. 


Thin-layer chromatography (TLC): A thin layer of a solid stationary phase on a flat plate is called TLC, a relatively simple and inexpensive technique that is often used for qualitative analysis.


Paper chromatography (PC): A sheet of paper as the stationary phase is used. Paper Chromatography is a easy and cheap technique that is often used for qualitative analysis.


Application 


Chromatography is now used in a wide variety of fields, including:


Chemistry: Chromatography is used to separate and analyze the composition of mixtures, to identify and quantify separated individual compounds, and to study the mechanisms of chemical reactions.


Biochemistry: Chromatography technique is used to analyze the mixtures of biological samples, to identify and quantify individual proteins and other biomolecules, and to study the mechanisms of biological processes.


Biology: Chromatography technique is used to analyze the composition of environmental samples, to identify and quantify individual pollutants, and to study the effects of pollutants on organisms.


Medicine: Chromatography is used to analyze the composition of blood, plasma and other body fluids, to identify and quantify individual drugs, antibodies and other therapeutic agents, and to study the mechanisms of drug action.


In all analytical techniques, Chromatography is powerful and versatile  and is used in a wide range of fields. chromatography technique has been continuously developed and it leads to even more widespread and innovative applications in the years to come.


Advancements in Chromatography


Chromatography is a rapidly developing field, and there have been many leading  techniques in recent years. Some of the most significant advances include:


-The development of new stationary phases with improved selectivity and efficiency.

-The development of new mobile phases with improved solubility and compatibility with the stationary phase.

-The development of new instrumentation that allows for faster, more precise, and more sensitive analysis.


Nowadays Advancements 


In recent times, chromatography has seen several advancements, including:


1. Technology Improvements: Modern chromatography instruments are coupled with high sensitive detectors, automated systems, and advanced data analysis software, providing higher precision and efficiency.


2.  Hyphenated Techniques: Chromatography is often coupled with other analytical techniques like mass spectrometry (LC-MS, GC-MS) or spectroscopy, enhancing the identification and characterization of separated compounds to higher precision.


3.  Miniaturization and Microfluidics: The development of microfluidic devices and chips has allowed for faster separations, reduced sample volumes, and portability of chromatography systems.


4.  UHPLC (Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography): Higher pressure capabilities and smaller particle size columns provided by UHPLC systems enable quicker separations and better resolution.


5.  Chiral Chromatography: Specific methods for isolating enantiomers, or mirror-image isomers, which are crucial for the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors.


6. Expanded Application Areas: Proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, and other -omics research domains are using chromatography more often.


7. Green Chromatography: An attempt is made to create chromatographic techniques that are less harmful to the environment in terms of waste production and solvent consumption.



Chromatography's versatility, efficiency, and broad range of applications make it an essential analytical tool for quality control, industry, and research alike. The method is constantly being improved to become even more potent, environmentally friendly, and sensitive.



         Image of Gas chromatography diagram 

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