GRADIENT ELUTION LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY MONITORED BY INFRARED DETECTION

Until recently infrared detectors have mainly been used in HPLC for monitoring separations of polymers performed by size exclusion chromatography where the composition of the mobile phase is not changed during the separation. Recent studies in retentive chromatography, especially those in nonaqueous reversed-phase, have considerably increased the utility of this detection principle. Separations necessitating gradient elution are frequently needed when complex samples are being studied. Tests have shown that infrared detection has considerable potential in this area, especially if the absorbance of the solvents used are judiciously balanced before use. The feasibility of using infrared detection for gradient studies is demonstrated with chromatograms showing the separation of saturated triglycerides and alkanes. © 1979 Oxford University Press.