A displacement chromatography process and displacer compounds used in the process and having the general formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein: each group R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R'.sub.1, R'.sub.2, and R'.sub.3, independently may be selected from alkyl, aryl, and aralkyl, and in which a ring containing one or more quaternary nitrogen may be formed by any one or more of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, R.sub.1 and R'.sub.1, R.sub.1 and R.sub.4, R.sub.4 and R'.sub.4, or R.sub.4 and R.sub.5; each R.sub.4, R'.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R'.sub.5 independently may be selected from alkyl, aryl, aralkyl and --(CH.sub.2).sub.a--(CHY).sub.b--(CH.sub.2).sub.c--N.sup.+R.sub.1R.sub.2R- .sub.3 An.sup.-, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are as defined above; each Y independently may be selected from --H, --OH, --OR.sub.6, halo, alkyl, aryl and aralkyl, wherein --R.sub.6 may be alkyl or --(CH.sub.2).sub.a--(CHOH).sub.b--(CH.sub.2).sub.c--N.sup.+R.sub.1R.sub.2- R.sub.3 An.sup.-, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are as defined above; each q and z independently may be any whole number from 0 to about 6, with the proviso that q+z is equal to or less than about 6; each a, b, and c independently may be any whole number from 0 to 2, with the proviso that the sum a+b+c in any fragment is at least 1; and each An.sup.- independently may be one or more organic or inorganic, monovalent or polyvalent anion as needed to obtain a neutral compound.