Supercritical Fluid Chromatography
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Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) is a robust and easy-to-use form of normal phase chromatography ideally suited to the analysis and purification of low to moderate molecular weight, thermally labile molecules. It is especially suited to the separation of chiral compounds. Similiar to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), SFC typically utilizes carbon dioxide as the mobile phase, therefore, the entire chromatographic flow path must be pressurized.
Image:SFC-schematic.jpg SFC pneumatics and flow diagram
In addition, SFC metering pumps require that the pump head be kept cold in order to maintain the carbon dioxide in a supercritical state, where it can be effectively metered at some specified flow rate. The chemist sets mobile phase flow rate, composition, and column temperature. In addition, SFC provides an additional control parameter, pressure, which the chemist similarly sets through the keyboard. From an operational standpoint, SFC is as simple and robust as HPLC.
Image:SFC-figures of merit.jpg Figures of Merit for SFC
Any molecule that will dissolve in methanol or a less polar solvent is an ideal candidate for SFC. SFC can even separate polar solutes. Many strong bases that are difficult to separate by other techniques separate rapidly and efficiently with good peak shapes.
Image:SFC-polarity-range.jpg Polarity Range of Solute Families
