ABSTRACT
Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is often referred to as gel permeation chromatography when organic mobile phases are used, or as gel filtration chromatography when aqueous mobile phases are used. Rigid solid packings such as spherical silica particles are also available for size exclusion chromatography. In general, chromatographic separation of a mixture involves differential migration of solutes through a column. In conventional liquid chromatography, this differential migration is achieved via preferential interaction between the different components of the mixture and the column stationary phase, in which the mobile phase plays a major part in determining that interaction. Expressing SEC column chromatographic parameters, such as peak broadening, plate height, or plate number, is more difficult than for conventional liquid chromatography. The universal calibration principle proposed by Benoit et al. utilizes the concept that molecules are separated according to hydrodynamic volume in size exclusion chromatography.
