chromatographically

Chromatographically refers to processes or techniques that utilize chromatography. Chromatography is a laboratory technique used for separating mixtures. In chromatography, the mixture is dissolved in a fluid (the mobile phase) which causes it to move across a stationary phase. This stationary phase can be solid or liquid. As the mobile phase moves through the stationary phase, different components of the mixture travel at different rates, causing them to separate.

Chromatographically derived information is often used to identify and quantify the components of a sample. For example, a sample might be analyzed chromatographically to determine the presence and concentration of various drugs in a biological fluid or to assess the purity of a synthesized chemical compound. The results of a chromatographic separation are typically visualized as a chromatogram, which is a graph plotting the detector response against time or volume. Each peak on the chromatogram represents a separated component of the mixture.

Different types of chromatography exist, including gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography, each suited for separating different types of substances. When a method or result is described as "chromatographically pure," it means that the substance has been separated from impurities using chromatography to a high degree. The term is fundamental in analytical chemistry and biochemistry for its widespread application in purification and analysis.