Obtimization of separation conditions in reversed phase liquid chromatography using complex solvent mixtures

Summary Four different methods of calculation of retention in ternary mobile phases were compared and it was found that the simple calculation based only on two values of the capacity factors (one for each binary system that composes the ternary mobile phase) provides the accuracy of prediction that is, at least, comparable to the other methods of calculation that require a large number of preliminary experiments. The deviations from ideal behaviour in ternary solvent mixtures are discussed; some sources of errors can be avoided, at least partially, using binary systems of adequate compositions for preparation of ternary mobile phases. Several examples show the comparison of calculated and experimental selectivities in ternary solvent systems. A simple calculation can be used for rapid selection of an adequate ternary (or more complex) mobile phase, if it is necessary to achieve the separation of a given sample mixture.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982