The use of columns packed with sub-2 µm particles in supercritical fluid chromatography

The development of greener analytical techniques is a topic of great interest and in this context, supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is making an interesting comeback. The present review focuses on the latest developments of this technique. Improvements brought to the chromatographic systems and requirements to achieve full compatibility with columns packed with sub-2 µm particles (UHPSFC) are discussed. A thorough kinetic evaluation made using van Deemter representations, isopycnic and kinetic plots shows that performance achieved with state-of-the-art UHPSFC hardware and columns is comparable to that obtained in UHPLC. Orthogonal selectivity compared to reversed phase LC (RPLC) and extended selectivity modulation possibilities achievable in supercritical conditions using different stationary phase chemistries are presented. Finally, current applications of UHPSFC and its different hyphenation possibilities including mass spectrometry (MS) are also reviewed, in the hope of helping chromatography users to have a new look on the possibilities offered by this technique.