USE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR SOIL AND PLANT ANALYSIS

Abstract

Analytical techniques have played an important role in the development of many research areas and commercial ventures. An ideal analytical method would be the one that provides precise and reliable information and is sensitive, rapid, and inexpensive to perform. Unfortunately, rarely does a single method offer everything. Historically, the field of soil and plant analysis has been dominated by techniques in which the analyte is not isolated (separated) from rest of the sample matrix prior to its estimation, e.g., atomic absorption/emission spectrophotometry (AAS), colorimetry, etc. The use of such a method that does not isolate the analyte of interest from rest of the sample matrix always leaves possibilities of interferences by other constituents in the sample. Analytical methods involving chromatographic techniques separate and “purify” the analytes prior to their quantification and hence are largely interference free. This feature alone greatly enhances reliability and makes these the methods of choice. The advent of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has made the separation of many analytes possible even from complex matrices. HPLC has also turned liquid chromatography into an “on-line” and “micro scale” analytical tool, dramatically reducing labor input and the required sample size. The net result being that HPLC has evolved into a powerful analytical technique offering high versatility, sensitivity, speed, reliability, precision, and simultaneous multi-component analysis, small sample requirements, at a reasonable cost. This paper will discuss theory, practices, and examples of specific applications of HPLC that have provided a major boost to soil and plant analysis.