Liquid chromatography (LC) allows to separate complex mixtures. In column LC a mixture is dissolved in a mobile phase (solvent, eluent) which is passed through a tube (column) filled with a stationary phase (column material). The separation mechanism inside the column depends on the conditions (technique) applied. In general an LC system consists of an isocratic or gradient pump, an injection system, at least one column and at least one detector. Chromatography software is used to generate the results, that depend on the technique applied.

PSS uses various LC techniques to characterize macromolecules and their low molar mass additives:

• Gel Permeation/Size Exclusion Chromatography, GPC/SEC/GFC
• Inverse GPC/SEC
• Interaction Polymer Chromatography, IPC
• 2D Chromatography
• Light Scattering

Separations may be (semi-)micro, analytical or preparative scale