A mathematical theory of the random walk model in chromatography

An exact mathematical treatment of the random walk model in chromatography is given in this paper. Various factors which can cause broadening of peaks, such as equilibium fluctuation, diffusion, size and structure of fixed phase particles, fluid velocity, flow around the particles, distribution ratio, column temperature and nonuniformity, etc., are all considered with a unified theory. Formulas of mean retention time and height of theoretical plate, containing all of the factors, are presented.