XI

FOREWORD

The 16th International Symposium on Chromatography took place in Paris from the 21st to the 26th of September 1986 at the Maison de la Chimie. It was organized by the Groupement pour 1’Avancement des Mtthodes Spectroscopiques et Physico- Chimiques d’Analyse (GAMS) in association with the Chromatographic Society and the Arbeitskreis Chromatographie der Fachgruppe Analytische Chemie der Gesell- schaft Deutscher Chemiker and we are pleased to acknowledge the excellent cooper- ation between the three societies. At the meeting, 59 lectures, including overview keynote lectures, and about 180 posters were presented. Discussion sessions allowed the participants to share their results and express their ideas on topics of current interest. Fifty companies took part in the scientific exhibition of chromatographic equipment and accessories.

While numerous meetings covering more or less specialized aspects of chro- matography are regularly held, the presence of over 1000 delegates attending the scientific sessions and the exhibition at the symposium demonstrates conclusively the need for a symposium devoted to all aspects of chromatography. This indeed allows participants to gain general ideas on recent developments in different fields of chro- matography and related separation techniques. In spite of the considerable, world- wide research effort in the past decades to improve every aspect of the chromato- graphic technique, the communications presented at the symposium demonstrated not only that the applications of the method are covering nearly all branches of the chemical and biological sciences, but also that research on the basic aspects of the technique is still in a quite active stage.

The quality of the scientific programme was the first reason for the success of the symposium and we wish to express our gratitude to the many authors who contri- buted to it as well as to the members of the Scientific Committee (H. Colin, C. Guillemin, G. Guiochon, J. F. K. Huber, C. E. R. Jones, E. sz. Kovhts, B. Maume, R. Rosset, G. Schomburg and P. Tuey) for having selected this excellent programme. We are indebted to the session chairmen and discussion leaders who significantly contributed to this success.

Thanks are due to the Editors of the Journal of Chromatography Symposium Volumes, Drs. E. Heftmann and M. Lederer for their help in the preparation and the publication of these proceedings.

The financial equilibrium of such a symposium could not be achieved without a successful exhibition. We acknowledge the contributions of the compagnies which were present at the Maison de la Chimie and express our appreciation to Mr. M. Lauret, Chairman of the Exhibition Committee.

Thanks are due to the members of the Organization and Social Committees for their excellent cooperation. We have the pleasure to acknowledge the ability, dedication and kindness of the people of GAMS for their essential contribution, although sometimes not apparent, to the organization of the meeting, especially to Mr. J. Tranchant, Mrs. D. Sandino and Mr. P. Croissant.

Finally, we wish to thank all the chromatographers who came to Paris and graciously accepted the constraints of various security controls in September, parti- r;n9.t,4 ~rt;,rol.r in tha mna,t;m.w 0-A . . . . ..^““+-..I VI~ULUU UCC‘“tiIJ 111 LLIL. LllbbLllL~ CallU made it so SULCGSSIUI.

MICHEL MARTIN

PHILIPPE DEVAUX