Moment analysis of chromatographic behavior in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Abstract

Chromatographic behavior, such as sample retention, band broadening, elution peak profile, column efficiency, separation performance, and so on, depends on both the retention equilibrium and mass transfer kinetics in the column. A great number of research works have been carried out so far on the retention equilibrium in chromatography. However, chromatographic behavior has not so abundantly been investigated from kinetic points of view because of some essential difficulties of kinetic study. Additionally, in contrast with the extensive applications of various HPLC instruments and separation media developed in recent decades, it seems that arrangements of theoretical bases and experimental strategies relating to the kinetic study are not well recognized by most chromatographers. In this review, some items of information about the moment analysis method and concrete examples about mass transfer kinetics derived by the method are provided. The progress of some strategies for the kinetic study on chromatography is also introduced.