Abstract

This chapter offers an introduction into supercritical chromatography, from its inception as a modified type of gas chromatography through to the robust packed column systems now increasingly more available to chemists in many fields. The role of co-solvents, additives and stationary phases are covered, including the wide array of choices on offer, the flexibility they provide and the effects that they impart. Obviously, the detectors employed play a large role on the types of compounds that can be observed; the transition from flame ionised detectors, UV-visible spectroscopy, evaporative light scattering detectors through to mass spectroscopy is discussed. The use of two-dimensional chromatography and its usefulness in resolving difficult to separate analytes is the final technique covered. Examples of applications of SFC are then given, with special emphasis on polymer and natural product separation. The chapter closes with green considerations for this analytical tool.