Brief on Difference between UV and PDA detector in HPLC Detectors
- UV (Ultraviolet) and PDA (Photodiode Array) detectors are commonly used in HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) analysis to detect and quantify compounds of interest in a sample. Both are working & classified as absorbance detectors
- UV detectors operate by measuring the amount of UV light absorbed (190-400 nm) by the sample as it passes through the detector cell.
- The amount of UV absorption is proportional to the concentration of the compound in the sample.
- UV detectors are widely used in HPLC analysis because they are highly sensitive, reliable, and can be used to detect a wide range of compounds.
- While covering the range of UV-VIS (190-800 nm) called a UV/VIS detector.
- PDA detectors, on the other hand, use multiple wavelengths of light to detect and quantify compounds in a sample.
- By measuring the absorption spectra at multiple wavelengths, PDA detectors can provide more detailed information about the sample and can also be used for qualitative analysis.
- Another Difference between UV and PDA detector in HPLC is their sensitivity. PDA detectors are generally more sensitive than UV detectors, which means they can detect smaller amounts of compounds in a sample.


Summary:
- In summary, UV detectors are generally used for routine quantitative analysis, where the goal is to determine the concentration of a known compound in a sample.
- PDA detectors, on the other hand, are used for more detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis, where the goal is to identify and characterize multiple compounds in a sample, and to obtain more detailed information about their properties.
- Both UV and PDA detectors can be used in conjunction with SEO (Size Exclusion Chromatography) for detecting and quantifying compounds in a sample.
- However, PDA detectors are generally preferred in SEO because they provide more detailed information about the sample and can be used for identifying and characterizing different types of molecules based on their absorption spectra.
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