ScienceAugust 19, 2026

chromatography

kroh-muh-TOG-ruh-fee

Definition

A laboratory technique used for the separation of a mixture by passing it in solution or suspension through a medium in which the components move at different rates.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words 'chroma' (color) and 'graphein' (to write). It was originally coined in the early 20th century to describe the separation of plant pigments on paper strips.

In the news

The article uses the term as part of 'liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry' (LC-MS), a common analytical platform that has become faster and more sensitive, shifting the primary workflow bottleneck to manual sample preparation.

Automation Could Help Reduce LC-MS Sample Preparation Bottlenecks

Read the full article ↗

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