Accelerating Modifier-Free SFC Separations with the Agilent 1260 Infinity II SFC System Focusing Late-Eluting Compounds Using Backpressure and Flow Gradients

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) covers a wide range of analyte polarity and application range. For example, SFC offers modifier-free separations of highly hydrophobic compounds using exclusively CO2, which makes SFC a truly green separation technique. Conversely, it is a common phenomenon that isocratic separations may lead to peak broadening of late-eluting compounds due to various band-broadening processes. This Technical Overview describes focusing late-eluting compounds by flow gradients and backpressure gradients in separations with pure CO2 while maintaining separation power for the early eluting analytes. A dramatic reduction in run time, and a significantly improved peak shape could be achieved using the full pressure range of the Agilent 1260 Infinity II SFC System.