Advantages and disadvantages of flash chromatography

Flash chromatography is a method used to separate sample mixtures into their components. Column chromatography is classified into two categories, based on how the liquid flows down the column. When the mobile phase is allowed to flow down the column by gravity, it is gravity column chromatography. When the mobile phase is allowed to flow down by the column by the pressure it is called flash chromatography. In flash chromatography a controlled air pressures combination and a shorter column chromatography which has been designed for particularly quick separation.
The advantages of flash chromatography are as follows.

• Large amounts of samples can be separated using flash chromatography.

• It is a rapid and economical method of separation.

• We can use thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to find out and implement a suitable mobile phase.

• There is no expensive tool to perform the process.

• If high resolution is needed, it is performed before high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to prevent any contamination of the HPLC column.

• A wide range of mobile phases can be used in flash chromatography.

• In preparatory style chromatography, the analytes can be isolated and reused.

The disadvantages of flash chromatography are as follows.

• Due to the open system, it can be affected by many factors like temperature, humidity, etc.

• Another disadvantage of flash chromatography is the irreversible adsorption of solutes.

• The drawbacks of long stationary phase in the column are time-consuming.

• More amount of solvents is required to separate, which is more costly.

• Manual loading of silica can cause errors in the process.

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