J. Sep. Sci. 2002, 25, 379–381 JSS Regional Report 379 i WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69469 Weinheim 2002 1615-9306/2002/0504–0379$17.50+.50/0 JSS Regional Report Separation Science in Italy F. Dondi a) *, G. P. Cartoni b) , S. Fanali c) a) Dipartimento di Chimica, via L. Borsari, 46, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy b) Dipartimento di Chimica, Università “La Sapienza”, P. Le A. Moro, Roma c) Istituto di Cromatografia del CNR Area della Ricerca di Roma, P.O.Box 10, I-00016 Monterotondo Scalo (Roma) Italy 1 Introduction The leading scientists who most significantly developed and influenced the development of chromatography and modern separation science in Italy were Arnaldo Liberti, Michael Lederer and Giovan Battista Marini-Bettolo. A. Liberti was active for half a century and brought his creativity and enthusiasm to the development of all ma- jor aspects of chromatographic techniques: instrumental advances, column development and environmental science applications. G.B. Marini Bettolo extensively ap- plied chromatography in organic chemistry and in natur- al product analysis. M. Lederer founded the Istituto di Chromatografia (Institute of Chromatography) of the Ita- lian Research Council (CNR) as well as the Journal of Chromatography. Besides these scientists who were active in Rome, chro- matography was extensively developed in many aca- demic institutions and industrial research centers. Im- portant companies were founded in Italy to manufacture chromatographic instrumentation and are still active to- day. This paper reviews the most salient aspects of Italy’s contribution to chromatography and to separation science, both past and present. 2 Literature & Conferences The Journal of Chromatography, the earliest scientific journal of separation science, was initiated in 1958 with M. Lederer as Editor, keeping its official Editorial seat in Rome from 1961 (Vol. 5) to 1980 (Vol. 188). Many Italian scientists are currently members of the Editorial Boards of the most important journals of separation science. In Italy many important conferences have been held on chromatography and separation science. Among these, the historical Sixth International Symposium on Gas Chromatography and Associated Techniques was held in Rome in 1966 (G.B. Marini Chairman, and M. Lederer and A. Liberti as Members of the Organizing Committee) and, some thirty years later, the same symposium re- turned to Rome (ISC ’98, A. Liberti and F. Dondi, Chair- men). M. Lederer also organized the IV International Symposium “Identification of Substances by Paper and Thin-Layer Chromatography” Frascati, Italy, September 21–24, 1969 The Congress on Capillary Chromatography held in Riva del Garda is a renowned biannual meeting on high efficiency separation techniques. Besides these classi- cal events, many other important meetings have been held and organized by Italian Scientists: A.J.P. Martin Honorary Symposium, Urbino, May 27–31 1985 (F. Bru- ner, Chairman); 2 nd International Symposium on Chiral Discrimination (Misiti and Gasparrini); 8 th International Symposium on Capillary Electrophoresis and Isotacho- phoresis (ITP ’92), Rome, Italy, October 6–9, 1992. (S. Fanali, chairman); International Ion Chromatography Symposium (IICS, Turin, 1994, C. Sarzanini); Advanced Study Institute on Theoretical Advancement in Chroma- tography and related Separation Techniques (Ferrara, August, 18–30, 1991, G. Guiochon and F. Dondi Co- Chairmen; Proceedings published by Kluwer); FFF’96, International Symposium on Field Flow Fractionation (F. Dondi, Ferrara, 1996); 11th International Sympo- sium on Capillary Enantioseparation Techniques (ITP ’98) Lido of Venice, Italy, October 4–7, 1998 (P.G. Righ- etti); ICES 2001: An Electrophoretic Odyssey, ICES- Electrophoresis 01, Verona, Italy, June 10–13, 2001 (P.G. Righetti Chairman); R. Maffei, S. Pinzauti, V. Cav- rini, M.G. Quaglia, P. Ficarra (Chairmen) organized the * Correspondence: Prof. F. Dondi, Dipartimento di Chimica, via L. Borsari, 46, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy. E-mail: F.Dondi@unife.it Regional Report