Chromatography is a term that many people may not be familiar with, but in many ways, chromatography affects our lives every day. Chromatography is essentially the process of separating a compound from a mixture, so it can be useful in many industries to analyze data and draw conclusions. Even if you don’t necessarily use chromatography every day, the benefits associated with the process affect your life daily.
Forensic Testing
Of the many everyday uses of chromatography, crime investigation via forensic testing is one of the more well-known. If you have ever seen a crime show on television, you have seen chromatography at work. In a real-life criminal investigation, gas chromatography is used to investigate cases. When investigators assessing the crime scene and collecting evidence, forensic labs use chromatography to analyze the evidence. Chromatography is also used to investigate arson. Gas chromatography can detect whether a liquid accelerant was used to start the fire. Another form of chromatography used in forensic testing is ink chromatography. Ink chromatography is used to match the ink on a document with the pen that belongs to the suspect.
Food Testing
Chromatography is used to test food from the source to the final product. There are many chromatography applications in agriculture, as well as in the food industry. Basically, chromatography gives us a better understanding of what exactly is in our food and whether is it safe to ingest. Chromatography is used to identify any harmful pesticides in food. Chromatography also keeps consumers safe by fact-checking nutritional value and ingredients. This is especially important for anyone with food allergies or sensitivities. For this reason, chromatography is used to test food that is gluten-free or vegan, as well.
Source: Christina Duron is a freelance writer for multiple online publications where she can showcase her affinity for all things digital. She has focused her career around digital marketing and writes to explore topics that spark her interest.
