Turbulent Flow Chromatography: A Unique Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography

Among 2D-LC techniques, a particular approach is commercialized by Thermo Fisher Scientific that may enable the direct introduction of biological samples into an online automated extraction system without any additional pre-treatment: the TurboFlow technology. It combines chemical and size exclusion capability of chromatography columns packed with porous particles in which a turbulent solvent flow is able to separate smaller molecules from larger ones (eg proteins). Once extracted, the small molecules can also be transferred to an analytical column for improving separation prior to detection. This is done through a unique plumbing and customized valve-switching arrangement that allows the focusing of molecules onto the second column. This enables a very efficient chromatographic separation. The use of the TurboFlow not only eliminates extensive sample preparation, thus reducing inter-operator variability and matrix effects, but also increases the capacity for high-throughput analyses due to a unique multiplexing technology, in which multiple LC channels are connected to a single detector.