Countercurrent chromatography: separation principle, mechanical design, development trends, and applications

Abstract

Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is the separation technique based on the different partition coefficients of the sample between two immiscible solvents, which is a liquid-liquid partition without solid support in the column. In this paper, Firstly, the mechanic’s equilibrium principle of CCC is described, which includes hydrostatic equilibrium system (HSES), hydrodynamic equilibrium system (HDES), unidirectional hydrodynamic equilibrium phenomenon, etc. The separation principle of the CCC is also explained. Secondly, the mechanical structure and design of parallel-axis CCC, cross-axis CCC, oblique-axis CCC, as well as some CCC derived from the three are illustrated respectively. Finally, the existing problems for the development of CCC have been exposed, and the trend of the future development direction and applications of CCC are discussed.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Applications
• countercurrent chromatography
• development trends
• mechanical design
• separation principle

Author contributions

Zhicong Liu wrote the paper, Yongjie Zhao contributed to the conception of this article and designed the CCC, Yang Liu designed the research proposal, Tiexuan Luo participated in the mechanical design of the CCC, Huihui Peng revised and edited the paper. All authors reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [21476135], and the 2020 Li Ka Shing Foundation Cross-Disciplinary Research Grant [2020LKSFG02E].