Gel permeation chromatography or GPC separates analytes based on their size or hydrodynamic volume. The separation process occurs through the usage of porous beads which have been packed into a column. The smaller analytes are retained for longer time due their ability to more easily enter the pores, and thus, will elute last while the larger analytes are quickly eluted. This type of size exclusion chromatography differs from other types of separation technologies in that they rely on chemical or physical interactions in order to separate the analytes.
GPC is often used in the analysis of polymers and as such, considerations must be made for the dispersity as well as the molecular weight. Each column has a limited range that it can separate, therefore, the range of weights of the analytes to be separated should be considered when selecting the size of the pores for column packing. Finally, the eluent chose needs to be a good solvent for the polymer with two common ones being tetrahydrofuran (THF) and m-cresol.
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