Chromatogram
Chart overview
Chromatograms display detector signal (UV absorbance, flame ionization, or mass ion current) as a function of retention time, enabling identification and quantification of separated mixture components.
Key points
- Analytical chemists annotate each eluting peak with compound name, retention time, and integrated area or percentage to report purity and composition.
- Resolution, tailing factor, and theoretical plates are calculated from peak shape parameters for method validation reports.
Python Tutorial
How to create a chromatogram in Python
Use the full tutorial for implementation details, troubleshooting, and chart variations in matplotlib, seaborn, and plotly.
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"Create a chromatogram from my data. Plot retention time (minutes) on the x-axis and detector response on the y-axis as a continuous line. Detect and annotate each peak with its retention time label and shade the peak area with a light fill. Add a flat baseline at zero and use journal formatting with Arial font and no top or right spines."
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Python Code Example
Console Output
Figure saved: plotivy-chromatogram.png
Common Use Cases
- 1Determining purity and identifying impurity peaks in pharmaceutical API lots
- 2Quantifying amino acid or metabolite concentrations in biological samples
- 3Monitoring reaction progress and product formation over time by repeated injection
- 4Method development and validation for food safety contaminant analysis
Pro Tips
Use scipy.signal.find_peaks with a minimum height and prominence to automate peak detection
Shade each integrated peak area with a unique color at low alpha to distinguish compounds visually
Include a system suitability table (resolution, tailing factor) as a text box inset on the figure
Overlay a blank or reagent blank chromatogram to identify solvent or matrix interference peaks
Long-tail keyword opportunities
High-intent chart variations
Library comparison for this chart
matplotlib
Best when you need full control over axis formatting, annotation placement, and journal-specific styling for chromatogram.
numpy
Useful in specialized workflows that complement core Python plotting libraries for chromatogram analysis tasks.
scipy
Useful in specialized workflows that complement core Python plotting libraries for chromatogram analysis tasks.
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