Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) is a form of
normal phase chromatography, first used in 1962, that is used for the analysis and purification of low to moderate
molecular weight, thermally labile molecules. It can also be used for the separation of
chiral compounds. Principles are similar to those of
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), however SFC typically utilizes
carbon dioxide as the mobile phase; therefore the entire chromatographic flow path must be pressurized. Because the supercritical phase represents a state in which liquid and gas properties converge, supercritical fluid chromatography is sometimes called "convergence chromatography."