Introduction to Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography

In this chapter we provide an introduction not only to the field of two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), but also to the scope of this book. We provide context for subsequent chapters by discussing why and when two-dimensional separations are needed, and introduce several ways 2D separations can be executed experimentally. We summarize important historical milestones in the development of the technique, and recent trends in the field leading up to the writing of this text. Finally, we give our perspective on some of the major challenges and opportunities in front of researchers as adoption of 2D-LC expands rapidly, primarily due to the maturation of commercially available instrumentation and software, and wider application by a growing community of users outside of the chromatography research community. The future of 2D-LC is bright and will be exciting to follow.