The true physical meaning of the corrected retention volumes in GC

Summary Through a straightforward mathematical derivation it is shown that the compressibility correction factor equals the ratio of gas pressure at the column outlet to the average pressure in the column, . Therefore, by multiplying by this factor, the experimentally measured retention volumes can be recalculated to the average pressure in the column. Corrected retention volumes thus represent the volume of the mobile phase under real conditions of chromatography in the column. Appropriate definitions for corrected retention volumes and factorj are formulated.