New educational title bridges academic and industrial expertise

Shimadzu Expert Co-Authors “Supercritical Fluid Chromatography For Dummies”

Shimadzu, a world leader in analytical instrumentation and testing equipment, announces the release of Supercritical Fluid Chromatography For Dummies, co-authored by Dr. Gesa Schad, Product Manager at Shimadzu Europa GmbH and published by Wiley. It provides an accessible, hands-on introduction to Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) – a highperformance technique gaining traction in modern analytical laboratories.

Dr. Schad collaborated with leading academic expert in chromatography Professor Caroline West from the University of Orléans in France. Through their combined perspectives this title unites academic depth and industrial know-how. Together, Schad and West present core concepts such as method development, detector selection, system optimization, and troubleshooting techniques, making the book a practical guide for students, lab technicians, and seasoned professionals alike.

“SFC has long been seen as a complex or niche method, but modern SFC is a flexible, mature technology suited to both analytical and preparative workflows across many industries,” says Dr. Schad. “We wanted to create a resource that lowers the entry barrier, corrects common misconceptions, and highlights the real-world benefits of SFC.”

Initial feedback from user-side additionally underlines the book's promising content. Dr. Stefan Lamotte, Senior Principal Scientist Liquid Chromatography at BASF, sums up: "A great book for practical use! Everything is presented briefly and concisely and also nicely condensed with the necessary limitation to the essentials."

By using supercritical CO₂ as a mobile phase, SFC offers faster, cleaner, and more efficient separations compared to traditional liquid chromatography. The book not only introduces the fundamentals of the technique but also emphasizes its practical applications, reflecting a broader initiative to expand awareness and adoption of SFC across the scientific community.

Web summary

Shimadzu’s Dr. Gesa Schad has co-authored the newly released “Supercritical Fluid Chromatography For Dummies”, published by Wiley. Together with Professor Caroline West from the University of Orléans, she provides an accessible and practical introduction to Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC). The book combines academic insight and industry expertise to help readers understand the principles, benefits, and applications of this powerful technique. Topics include method development, detector selection, system optimization, and troubleshooting. Now available – order your copy here: www.shimadzu.eu/sfc-for-dummies 

Figure 1: SFC for Dummies