‘FPLC’ stands for ‘fast protein liquid chromatography,’ and it refers to a procedure in chemistry that makes use of two techniques in combination.  These two techniques are liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.  The former technique deals with the separation of chemicals in liquid while the latter technique specializes in the measurement of the mass and charge ratio of chemical particles.  When these two techniques are combined for use, the procedure is known as FPLC, or fast protein liquid chromatography.  In a simpler sense, FPLC is a procedure that allows for the separation of various chemical particles, for example, in the presence of other chemicals.  Through the features of combined spectrometry and chromatography, FPLC is considered a very reliable and high-performance type of procedure.

The procedure involved in FPLC typically involves only protein components.  But since the procedure allows for the use of multiple resins and buffers, it is also applied for use with other chemical particles and substances aside from proteins.  In the past, FPLC was called fast performance liquid chromatography, but was later renamed to fast protein liquid chromatography because of its wide use in protein separation and techniques.  In contrast to another procedure called HPLC, the procedure involved in FPLC is said to produce minimal or low buffer pressure, but the flow rate can reach up to 5 milliliters per minute.  Another great thing about the FPLC procedure is that it can easily be scaled in terms of volume.  When protein particles are used, the FPLC procedure also makes use of only two containers with one intended for the separated product and the other for waste items.  With the FPLC procedure and technique, proteins and other particles are separated at a sufficient level in terms of purity rate making it very useful.  The separated particles also remain biologically active making them available for continued or future use.