A brief historical review of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) as it pertains to open tubular (i.e. capillary) column SFC and packed column SFC is presented. Specific sections include (1) early emphasis on open tubular columns and non-polar analytes; (2) packed column SFC for separation of more polar analytes; (3) preparative scale packed column SFC. The review is completed by discussing current trends in SFC such as (a) chiral separations, (b) achiral separations, (c) simulated moving bed SFC, and (d) SFC coupled to mass spectrometry. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.