By contrast, in liquid-liquid chromatography, both the mobile and stationary phases are liquid.

Nearly any pair of immiscible solutions can be used in liquid-liquid chromatography provided that the stationary phase can be successfully retained.

Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is a type of liquid-liquid chromatography, where both the stationary and mobile phases are liquids.

Several researchers have proposed renaming both CCC & CPC to liquid-liquid chromatography, but others feel the name chromatography itself is a misnomer.

After unsuccessful experiments with complex countercurrent extraction machines and liquid-liquid chromatography methods where the liquids move in opposite directions, Martin hit on the idea of using silica gel in columns to hold water stationary while an organic solvent flows through the column.