Page 340 - Multidimensional Chromatography

330 Multidimensional Chromatography

Figure 12.23 SFC–SFC analysis, involving a rotary valve interface, of a standard coal tar
sample (SRM 1597). Two fractions were collected from the first SFC separation (a) and then
analyzed simultaneously in the second SFC system (b); cuts ‘a’and ‘b’are taken between 20.2
and 21.2 min, and 38.7 and 40.2 min, respectively. Peak identification is as follows: 1, tri-
phenylene 2, chrysene 3, benzo[ghi]perylene; 4, anthracene. Reprinted from Analytical
Chemistry, 62, Z. Juvancz et al., ‘Multidimensional packed capillary coupled to open tubular
column supercritical fluid chromatography using a valve-switching interface’,
pp. 1384–1388, copyright 1990, with permission from the American Chemical Society.

12.12 CONCLUSIONS

Multidimensional chromatography has proven to be useful for the analysis of com-
plex samples such as polymer or industrial mixtures. All of the separation techniques
available today have definite limitations in terms of their selectivity and separation
range, which leads to the necessity of multi-stage separation procedures for samples
which contain a wide variety of different components. Current technological pro-
cesses require fast and rugged analytical methods which can provide comprehensive
information about the process stages and products. This dictates the necessity of
development of automated complex separation procedures with minimal sample pre-
treatment, and the use of on-line multidimensional chromatographic techniques is a
logical solution to these requirements.