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The Advantages of HPLC

HPLC, or High Performance Liquid Chromatography, is an analytical tool used in laboratories to separate, identify and purify components of a mixture. It has several advantages over similar analytical methods.

  1. Features

    • The basic components of HPLC include an injection port, pressurized column, solvent delivery system, a detector and computer.

    Function

    • A sample is injected into the column. Individual molecules pass through the column at different rates. The result is a separation of each component that make up a mixture. As each component exists the column, it passes through a detector. A graph showing peaks, which represent each unique molecule, is produced.

    Uses

    • HPLC is used to separate various components of a mixture, identify and purify a specific component of a mixture and determine the concentration of a specific component in a mixture.

    Advantages

    • HPLC is fast, reproducible and easy to operate. Multiple tests of the same sample produce results that are relatively uniform.

    Applications

    • Several industries utilize HPLC, including the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and petroleum industries.

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