7. Choosing a separation method

7.1 Selection guide

The choice of a separation method is an essential step in the development of any LC analysis. The fact that today's chromatographers have at their disposal a vast array of methods and, within these, a wide range of stationary phases, does not simplify this choice, even though it does have the advantage of enabling certain separations with a selectivity, and therefore a resolution, rarely achieved before.

The choice of method depends largely on the nature of the sample and its level of knowledge, but also retains a certain empirical element. It is not uncommon for the same separation to be obtained by more than one method. The choice of a particular method depends on many factors, such as the presence of other solutes, the possibility of a...