4. Chromatographic separation processes

Chromatographic separation is based on adsorption processes. A gaseous or liquid mixture is injected at the inlet of an adsorbent column (stationary phase) into a continuously fed carrier fluid (an eluent, mobile phase). At the column outlet, the various species are collected and separated. Separation is achieved thanks to the different affinities or adsorptivities of the components to be separated.

Chromatography is commonly used for mixture analysis (analytical chromatography) and preparative applications (preparative chromatography). It can be used to separate gaseous or liquid mixtures.