What Techniques are Used to Analyze Complex Mixtures?
Several advanced techniques are employed to analyze complex mixtures, each with its own strengths and limitations:
- Chromatography: Techniques like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography (GC) are often used to separate components of a mixture based on their physical or chemical properties. - Mass Spectrometry (MS): Often coupled with chromatography, MS provides detailed information about the molecular weight and structure of compounds. - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy: NMR is useful for elucidating the structure of organic compounds within complex mixtures. - Electrophoresis: Techniques like gel electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis separate molecules based on their size and charge. - Spectrophotometry: UV-Vis, IR, and fluorescence spectrophotometry are used to quantify specific components within a mixture.
