HPLC columns (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography columns) are critical components in HPLC systems, used to separate, identify, and quantify compounds in a mixture. They are cylindrical tubes packed with specialized materials (stationary phase) that interact with the sample as it passes through under high pressure.
The separation occurs based on differences in how each compound interacts with the stationary phase and the mobile phase (the solvent), leading to different retention times. HPLC columns come in various types, such as reverse-phase, normal-phase, and ion-exchange, depending on the nature of the analysis. They are widely used in pharmaceuticals, biochemistry, environmental testing, and quality control to achieve precise and efficient separation of molecules.