Chelation and its Role in Contemporary Liquid Chromatography

The chromatographic possibilities and limitations arising from the exploitation of stationary phase complexation and chelation as a separation mechanism within high-performance liquid/ion chromatography are considered in this introductory chapter. The correct definition of High-Performance Chelation Ion Chromatography (HPCIC) is discussed, in particular to distinguish this specific chromatographic mode from other lower efficiency and extraction based techniques having similar names or using similar adsorbents. The milestones involved in the discovery, development and applications of chelating stationary phases are described, together with the evolution of such materials into high-performance grade phases for use in HPCIC.