Modelling and Method Development
Now robust instruments are commercially available, rapid method development is becoming one of the key areas of research in the ABC required by industry. One of the challenges is to take the “art” out of solvent selection (Method development). One method of doing this is using gradient techniques (Gradient elution) or using an automated operating procedure (Automation) that investigates a number of different solvent system combinations.
Modelling and method development are two key areas of research in the ABC. Our modelling research not only helps people visualise how the process works (Theory) through animations of the process (Animations), but also allows them to predict what the chromatogram will look like if the partition coefficients of the constituent compounds are known in advance (Predictive modeling). The Centre also performs research on the complex fluid dynamic behaviour between the phase systems in the column (Computational fluid dynamics).
