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DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1546267
Gradient Elution in Countercurrent Chromatography
Publication History
received 03 October 2014
revised 03 March 2015
accepted 03 June 2015
Publication Date:
21 September 2015 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/plantamedica/201517/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-s-0035-1546267_pmy1121-1.jpg)
Abstract
Countercurrent chromatography is a form of liquid-liquid partition chromatography in which the stationary liquid phase is retained in the apparatus without the use of a solid support. Gradient elution in countercurrent chromatography can be used in many different ways, such as linear gradients, stepwise elution gradients, pH gradients, etc. The main goal of using the gradient approach is to shorten the duration of the separation and improve resolution, especially when the retention range of the sample to be purified is broadening and, thus, the compounds cannot be purified by only one solvent system. The principle is based on modifying the mobile phase to increase the elution strength with no or minimum changes in the stationary phase, which can be a difficult task since both phases are in intimate contact all the time. The most common ways to perform gradients in countercurrent chromatography are changing the mobileʼs phase polarity, flow rate, and pH, what is called linear or step gradient, flow rate gradient, pH gradient, respectively.
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