Covalent chromatography is an important, highly specific separation techniq
ue. In covalent chromatography, proteins and other ligands bearing accessib
le thiol groups form a mixed disulfide with the gel. The proteins are thus
covalently linked to the stationary phase from which they can be subsequent
ly eluted by addition of a reducing agent. Basic principles of the method a
re given together with the methods for the synthesis of gels. In addition,
the paper describes several special applications of covalent chromatography
.