Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Time of Flight (UPLC-ToF)
Ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) is a powerful tool to separate the components of a complex mixture. It could be considered as a new and alternative method to the conventional LC in which the main difference is the particle size of column sorbent (less than 2 μm) that requires a high pressure (15,000 psi) to work with. This technology allows for lower injection volume, less sample consumption, faster flow rate, and higher sample throughput, and thus increasing the chromatographic performance (narrower peaks and shorter chromatographic runs). UPLC is equipped with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ToF) for better identification efficiency (mass sensitivity and analytical resolution). UPLC-ToF can be used for the detailed analysis of dyes, inks, oils, proteins, waxes, gums, and resins in the archaeological materials.