Changes in Chromatographic Resolution

Chromatographic resolution is different to resolution often discussed in mass spectrometry. Although the mass spectrometer is extremely powerful at analysing compounds by mass, we still require chromatography to generate a robust and reliable methodology for our analysis. This is particularly true for isobaric species, such as regioisomers, which cannot be distinguished by mass. In this circumstance, we need to have chromatographic resolution to separate all compounds of interest to definitively identify each analyte. We might also have compounds which cause other analytes ion suppression which is detrimental to analysis. By altering the chromatographic conditions, we can resolve those compounds and ensure they do not negatively impact on the detection.