The key difference between HPLC and fast HPLC is that the pump pressure that we use for HPLC is around 40 MPa whereas the pump pressure for fast HPLC is around 3-5 MPa.
The most common technique that we use for separating components of a mixture is “liquid chromatography”. There are several techniques to achieve this purpose out of which HPLC is very popular. HPLC stands for High Performance Liquid Chromatography that identifies, quantifies and separates components of a liquid mixture in a fast and efficient manner. Fast HPLC is a special application of HPLC which has of late caught the attention of those involved in the study of solutions.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is HPLC
3. What is Fast HPLC
4. Side by Side Comparison – HPLC vs Fast HPLC in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is HPLC?
HPLC is high performance liquid chromatography. It makes use of a high pressure to push solvents so that they pass through a column. Also, it is an ideal way to separate and study various compounds such as amino acids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, steroids, antibiotics and hydrocarbons. HPLC has many advantages over other methods of separation of mixtures such as higher resolution and faster analysis. It obliterates the need for repacking and regeneration and offers better control over parameters and thus, increasing the efficiency of separation. Ideally, HPLC suits for large-scale applications as it can separate very small particles and allows the use of high pressures that make it easy for solvents to flow easily.
Figure 01: HPLC Column
In brief, the method of operation of the HPLC technique is as follows. First, we should introduce the sample into the stream of mobile phase in discrete small amounts using a pump. The pump pressure should be maintained at 40 MPa. This stream of mobile phase percolates through the column of HPLC. Then, the components in the sample also pass through the column. However, their speeds of movement differ from each other because of the difference in the interactions between the sample components and the adsorbent inside the column. We call this adsorbent as the stationary phase because it resides inside the column (not moving). Then, at the end of the column, we can collect the sample that elutes from the column, thereby, we can collect the components in the sample separately.
What is Fast HPLC?
Recently, research scientists at Schering Plough research institute developed a rapid HPLC technique that is an advanced version of HPLC as it allows for even faster separation of compounds from a mixture. Also, known as fast HPLC, this technique makes use of a 2.7um fused core silica particles that are made by fusing 0.5um porous silica over a solid silica particle. These uniquely made particles make the procedure of separation very fast and that too at low backpressure than what we use in HPLC.
Figure 02: FPLC Apparatus
Fast HPLC gets results comparable with UPLC, but scientists consider that this technique is superior as it does not require very expensive ultrahigh pressure equipment. What is great is that fast HPLC does not require any new laboratory protocols.
What is the Difference Between HPLC and Fast HPLC?
HPLC is high performance liquid chromatography and fast HPLC is an advanced form of high performance liquid chromatography. The key difference between HPLC and fast HPLC is that the pump pressure that we use for HPLC is around 40 MPa. Whereas, the pump pressure for fast HPLC is around 3-5 MPa. Furthermore, we can separate different compounds such as amino acids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, steroids, antibiotics and hydrocarbons using the HPLC technique while the fast HPLC technique is mainly used for the separation of proteins.
The below infographic presents more information on the difference between HPLC and fast HPLC.
Summary – HPLC vs Fast HPLC
HPLC is a technique of liquid chromatography that has become very popular all over the world. Fast HPLC is a new version of HPLC, research scientists at Schering Plough Institute developed this new technique. The key difference between HPLC and fast HPLC lies upon the pump pressure that we use for the separation. That is; the pump pressure that we use for HPLC is around 40 MPa. But, the pump pressure for fast HPLC is around 3-5 MPa.