Aerosol-based detectors for liquid chromatography

•Detectors for liquid chromatography.•Evaporative light scattering detection.•Condensation nucleation light scattering detection/nano-quantity analyte detection.•Charged aerosol detection.

Aerosol-based detectors developed within the last few decades have increasingly addressed the need for sensitive, universal liquid chromatography detection in a wide variety of applications. Herein, we review the operating principles, instrumentation, analytical characteristics, and recent applications of the three general types of such detectors: evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD), condensation nucleation light scattering detection (CNLSD); commercially known as the nano-quantity analyte detector (NQAD), and charged aerosol detection (CAD). Included is a comparative evaluation of the operational and analytical characteristics of these detectors.