INTRODUCTION
4.1.1.
Sequential Injection Chromatography (SIC) is a marriage of two technologies: Liquid Chromatography (LC) and Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA). It combines the separation power of LC with the versatility of sample processing by programmable flow. Sample and eluent solutions are manipulated by flow programming as they are transported through the column and detector.
SIC can be performed in a reversed-phase, ion-exchange, or affinity chromatography format.
SIC is carried out on monolithic columns, using a medium pressure
pump, or on microcolumns, using a conventional low pressure syringe pump.
The advantages of the SIC are:
1) Versatility of operation, as sample and eluent volumes are defined by software script
2) SIC allows derivatization prior to separation
3) Ability to accelerate auxiliary operations such as gradient formation, column conditioning and washout.
4) Peripheral devices, such as dialyzers for sample cleanup, biochemical reactors, or Franz Cells used for pharmaceutical research, can easily be interfaced with the SIC instrument.
5) A typical SIChrom system costs less than half of a full featured HPLC instrument
