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HPLC is an acronym for High Performance Liquid Chromatography. “Chromatography” is a separation technique, “chromatogram” is the result of chromatography, and “chromatograph” is the instrument used to conduct chromatography.
Among the various technologies developed for chromatography, dedicated molecular separation devices called columns and high-efficiency pumps for delivering solvent at a constant flow rate are some of the key components of a chromatograph. As related technologies become more sophisticated, the system is commonly referred to as high performance liquid chromatography, simply referred to as “LC”. Nowadays, ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), capable of high-speed analysis, has become more widespread.
Only compounds dissolved in solvents can be analyzed with HPLC. HPLC separates dissolved compounds in a liquid sample and allows for qualitative and quantitative analysis of which elements are present in the sample and how much.
Fig.1 shows a basic overview of the HPLC process. The solvent used to separate components in a liquid sample for HPLC analysis is called the mobile phase. The mobile phase is delivered to a separation column, otherwise known as the stationary phase, and then to the detector at a constant flow rate controlled by a solvent delivery pump. A fixed amount of sample is introduced into the column and the compounds in the sample are separated. Compounds separated in the column are detected by a detector at the bottom of the column and each compound is identified and quantified.
