Adsorption chromatography

HISTORY

Curiously, this industrial and laboratory technique was discovered thanks to a botanist who tried to analyze vegetal pigments which are also coloured lipids. Michael Tswett (1872-1920) is credited with developing and publishing the first concept and technique of chromatography (column chromatography). Tswett was aware that his results possessed significance beyond the mere separation of chlorophyll, xanthophyll, and carotene. The title of one of  his papers was “On a new category of adsorption phenomena and their application to biochemical analysis” (Tswett M, Ber Deut Botan Ges 1906, 24, p.316 and 384; Chem Zeutr 1906, 72, 892 and 77, 1286; Chem Ber 1908, 41, 1352). The work of Tswett did not achieve at that time the recognition afforded it today. At that time chemists were not attracted by micro-methods and Tswett was a botanist.
A survey of the life and scientific acitvities of Tswett may be found in LC-GC north America.

Column chromatography was rediscovered and revived by Kuhn   in 1931 also in the course of studies on carotenoids (Kuhn R et al., Z Physiol Chem 1931, 197, 141; Ber 1951, 64, 1349). This time this technique received wide attention likely due to the general development of biochemistry which necessitated refinement of the methods of separations. Despite the interest of lipid chemists in the carotenoid substances, the development of chromatographic methods progressed more rapidly with amino acids and carbohydrates than with lipids. Prior to 1950 only a few references to chromatography of fatty substances can be found. In 1936, Thannhauser SJ described the use of an aluminium oxide column to separate phospholipids (J Biol Chem 1936, 116, 527). In 1948, Swain LA described the separation of unsaponifiable lipids into three fractions on an alumina column (Can Chem 1948, 32, 533). The use of silicic acid to separate various lipids was described for the first time in 1952 by Borgstrom B  (Acta Physiol Scand 1952, 25, 101).