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AAT Bioquest

What is Column Chromatography?

Posted March 18, 2022


Answer

Column chromatography is one of the most commonly used chromatography techniques for protein purification. It is used to purify compounds based on their hydrophobicity or polarity. Column chromatography is generally used to separate a single chemical compound from a mixture dissolved in a solvent. In this method, the sample containing a mix of components is passed through a stationary column that is filled with an adsorbent. The individual components in the mixture move through the column at different rates depending on their polarity and interaction strength with the adsorbent. As a result, they get separated in fractions. The non-polar compounds elute first and can be separated from the rest of the mixture. The polar compounds interact more strongly with the adsorbent and elute later.

Additional resources

ReadiUse™ Bio-Gel P-6 spin column

Multi-column technologies in chromatographic analysis