Glossary

Chromatography; chromatography

A technique for separating compounds in a mixture based on their different distribution between a stationary phase, contained in a column, and a mobile phase, which may be a gas, a liquid or a supercritical fluid. These differences in behavior lead to differences in residence time in the column. Ideally, they leave the column (eluted) completely separated from each other. This is the most widely used analysis technique.

Détecteur; detector

An essential component of a chromatograph, it detects compounds after they have eluted from the column, usually by circulating the mobile phase through a detection cell or a more complex system. Its response is used to obtain the chromatogram of the separation, and to perform quantitative analysis of the components in the mixture.

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