Abstract
Yoichiro Ito introduced countercurrent chromatography (CCC) in 1966, reporting the separation of blood plasma cells with a sealed helical tube. Since then, CCC has been a fertile ground for instrumental and technical innovation. The key innovation of CCC was to use centrifugal forces to retain the stationary liquid phase in the column in such a way that it is able to interact dynamically with the mobile phase without any solid support. The broad diversity of countercurrent separation terminology reflects the innovative spirit of the field, as well as the global appeal of this technique. The selection of the appropriate biphasic liquid system is the core of the CCC technique. The CCC columns must generate the centrifugal field needed to maintain the liquid stationary phase; therefore, they cannot be a simple tube with frits at both ends. Rotors, motor, gears, spools, and rotating seals are very specific things that are not needed in a classical liquid chromatography column with a solid stationary phase. The differences between the two main types of CCC columns are described. The bases of the CCC theory are also given.
Highlights
This text was especially prepared for the present special issue on countercurrent chromatography (CCC)
After a useful separation has been obtained in the normal way, this allows the fast recovery of all remaining solutes retained in the liquid stationary phase, leaving a Countercurrent chromatography chromatography (CCC) column full of clean stationary phase ready for the run
There is no countercurrent circulation of fluids in CCC, the name being somewhat of a misnomer
Summary
This text was especially prepared for the present special issue on countercurrent chromatography (CCC). Separations 2017, 4, 30 terms are used or not, it is strongly recommended that the “countercurrent chromatography” keywords and/or the CCC acronym be put, so that search engines can identify and find all relevant articles dealing with this topic [4] Other naming, such as “centrifugal partition chromatography” for CCC using hydrostatic columns [5], or “countercurrent separations” [6], are acceptable if the appropriate CCC keywords were added in the manuscript for correct indexing [4]. You will find separations lasting more than six hours that are still dubbed “high speed” This is seen as ridiculous by our chromatographer colleagues, but it is so difficult to change long (and bad) habits that I have allowed the inclusion of inappropriate terms and acronyms.
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