Analytical challenges encountered and the potential of supercritical fluid chromatography: A perspective of five experts

The first discussions on the use of inorganic gases above their critical point as mobile phase in chromatography systems stems back to 19571 and it was Klesper et al who reported on a preliminary study in which chlorofluorocarbons were used above their critical point to separate metal phophorins.2 Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with carbon dioxide as the mobile phase emerged in the late 1960s. In the past decade, a new generation of SFC instruments are commercially available and also the number of applications of SFC have grown considerably. Here, Susan Olesik, Caroline West, Davy Guillarme, Debby Mangelings, and Lucie Nováková share their thoughts on the technology and discuss the challenges and potential of SFC.