In: Chemistry
Describe the components of a HPLC. How would you improve the accuracyof the analysis, if necessary?
High Performance Liquid Chromatography or HPLC is a technique that enebles the components of a mixture to be segregated easily. It has the following components:
1. Column : it is a tube that contains beads that have affinity towards the components of the mixture. When the mixture of interest is passed through the column in a solvent, due to differences in the properties of components, they go through the column at different rates and get separated.
2. Pump : it pumps the solvent into the column at high pressure.
3. Injector : it injects the liquid sample in the solvent stream flowing inside the column.
4. Detector : it detects individual molecules that come out of the column.
5. Data system : it controls all parts and takes data from the detector and finds out the retention time and the amount of sample.
The accuracy can be increased in the following ways:
1. Packing the column with less diameter particles.
2. Increasing the accuracy of the detector and data System.