Deutsch: Chromatographie / Español: Cromatografiai / Português: Cromatografia / Français: Chromatographie / Italiano: Cromatografia
Chromatography is the collective term for a set of laboratory techniques for the separation of mixtures. The mixture is dissolved in a fluid called the mobile phase, which carries it through a structure holding another material called the stationary phase. The various constituents of the mixture travel at different speeds, causing them to separate. The separation is based on differential partitioning between the mobile and stationary phases. Subtle differences in a compound's partition coefficient result in differential retention on the stationary phase and thus changing the separation.
In the quality management context, chromatography is a technique used to separate and analyze components of a sample. Chromatography can be used for various purposes, including quality control, impurity analysis, and identification of substances.
Examples of chromatography in the quality management context include:
- Gas chromatography (GC), which is used to analyze volatile liquids and gases
- Liquid chromatography (LC), which is used to analyze liquids and semi-volatile substances
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which is a more sensitive and precise form of LC
- Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), which is used to analyze small amounts of sample
- Paper chromatography, which is a simple form of chromatography that uses paper as the stationary phase
In quality management, chromatography can be used to verify the quality and purity of raw materials, intermediate products, and final products. For example, an organization may use chromatography to test the purity of a food additive, the composition of a drug, or the quality of a chemical used in the production process. Chromatography can also be used to identify contaminants and impurities in a product, which can help the organization improve the quality of its products and reduce the risk of defects or adverse effects.