Liquid chromatography Instruments Market Size

Liquid chromatography Instruments Market Growth Projections and Opportunities

Liquid chromatography (LC) stands as a key analytical technique employed for the separation of dissolved ions or molecules in a solvent. The instrumentation for simple liquid chromatography typically involves a column with a fritted bottom that houses a motionless phase in equilibrium with a solvent. In preparative-scale work, conventional LC is widely used for purifying and isolating components within a mixture. Additionally, ultra-trace separations utilize small, disposable columns that are discarded after a single use. For analytical separations geared toward detection or quantification, more sophisticated instruments such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are employed. HPLC instruments, characterized by a pump that propels the mobile phase through, offer higher resolution and faster analysis times.
HPLC, the most common technique for separating, identifying, and quantifying various chemical components, boasts key advantages such as high speed, efficiency, and accuracy, contributing significantly to market growth. Despite its benefits, factors like cost and complexity serve as impediments to the segment's growth. A relatively recent technique, Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC), offers new possibilities in liquid chromatography by enhancing time efficiency and reducing solvent consumption. Although more advanced, UHPLC is also more expensive.

Other liquid chromatography techniques include chiral chromatography, focusing on separating enantiomers using a chiral HPLC column. The importance of the chirality of drugs has gained recognition, prompting discussions on the consequences of using racemates versus enantiomers in the pharmaceutical literature.

The global liquid chromatography instruments market, categorized by technique, includes High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Ultra High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC), Low-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (LPLC), Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC), and others (including chiral and affinity chromatography). HPLC dominates the market, accounting for 54% in 2015, driven by its fast process, accuracy, and efficiency. UHPLC is anticipated to exhibit the highest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8% during the forecast period, owing to improved separation efficiency, reduced time, and advanced technology.

Major players in the liquid chromatography instruments market include Agilent Technologies, Waters Corporation, Shimadzu Corp, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., PerkinElmer, and Phenomenex. Agilent Technologies leads with the largest market share, followed by Waters Corporation and Shimadzu Corp. Their market dominance is attributed to trusted instruments, a global presence, and ongoing efforts in new product development with advanced technologies.