Tracing the Origin of Chromatography & Biopharmaceutical driven chromatographic technology innovation
The origin of liquid chromatography columns can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the core idea of achieving separation through differential adsorption.
In 1903, pioneering experimental
Russian botanist Mikhail Tsvet conducted a groundbreaking experiment while studying plant pigments. He filled calcium carbonate (stationary phase) into a glass tube, and then poured a petroleum ether solution containing plant pigments (mobile phase) into the tube. By using gravity to make the flowing phase flow downwards, different pigments in the solution form separated color bands in the glass column due to their different adsorption abilities with calcium carbonate. Civet named this method "Chromatography", meaning "color recording". This is also the physical origin of the concept of "chromatographic column".
The Birth of Core Terminology
Civet's experiment was not only a method, but also laid the foundation for the entire chromatographic theory. He clearly defined the filling material inside the glass tube as the "stationary phase", while the flushing agent is the "mobile phase"
The idea of two-phase separation has become the cornerstone of all chromatographic techniques.
Early technological features
This stage of liquid chromatography technology is called "classical liquid chromatography" or "column chromatography". Its main characteristics are: relying on gravity to drive the mobile phase, slow separation speed; The fixed phase particles have a larger particle size (usually 100-150 μ m), resulting in lower column efficiency and limited separation ability; The separated samples need to be collected in stages before detection and analysis, which is cumbersome to operate.
Subsequent evolution
Civet's work did not immediately attract widespread attention at that time. It was not until the 1930s and 1940s, when the theory of partition chromatography was developed [A], and Martin and Synge successfully applied partition chromatography to separate acetyl amino acids and proposed the chromatographic tray theory in 1941, that chromatography technology regained attention and laid a solid theoretical foundation for the subsequent era of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Inventory of new liquid chromatography columns in 2025
The sensitivity of analysis has been increased by up to 30 times, and the pace of domestic substitution is accelerating. The chromatographic column market is entering a period of technological explosion.
In the field of analysis and testing in 2025, HPLC column technology is innovating at an unprecedented speed. With the surge in demand for complex therapeutic drugs such as peptides and oligonucleotides in the biopharmaceutical industry, HPLC column manufacturers have launched new products with ultra-high inertness, specialization, and intelligence.
These innovations not only significantly improve analytical sensitivity and separation efficiency, but also provide key support for the development of cutting-edge drugs such as gene therapy and cell therapy.
01 Technological innovation drives market growth
The global high-performance HPLC column market is expected to grow from $2.6 billion in 2024 to $4.7 billion in 2035, with an average annual compound growth rate of 5.3%
This growth is mainly driven by the demand for precise analytical tools in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and environmental testing industries.
The Asia Pacific region currently holds a dominant position in the global market, with a market share of approximately 6.0%.
China's innovation performance in this field is particularly outstanding, with multiple domestic manufacturers launching products with international competitiveness.
The BCEIA exhibition in 2025 has become a stage for showcasing innovative achievements across the entire chain, with numerous well-known companies showcasing their latest products and technologies.
Chromatography technology is shifting from simply pursuing hardware breakthroughs to scenario based implementation, with a greater emphasis on practical application needs.