Chromatographic methods

Abstract

This course material, titled "Chromatographic Methods," is designed for third-year undergraduate students in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, as well as those in related chemistry, biological sciences, and process engineering disciplines. The text provides an in-depth study of instrumental separation methods, focusing on the principles, fundamentals, and technical aspects of chromatography commonly employed in analytical and pharmaceutical research. The curriculum is structured across eight chapters, beginning with the fundamental definitions, laws, and classifications of chromatography, including detailed discussions on separation mechanisms such as partitioning, adsorption, ion exchange, size exclusion, and affinity. Subsequent chapters provide comprehensive coverage of practical techniques, including planar chromatography (Thin Layer Chromatography and Paper Chromatography), conventional column liquid chromatography, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Gas Chromatography (GC), detailing their respective equipment and theoretical underpinnings. Finally, the course addresses modern analytical practices by exploring the coupling of chromatographic methods with advanced detection systems, specifically Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). This material serves as an essential resource for mastering the theoretical and practical application of chromatographic techniques for the separation, identification, and quantification of components in complex mixtures.