Regularities in the retention of nonsubstituted polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in liquid chromatography on polar adsorbents

Summary The retention of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is studied in liquid chromatography, using columns packed with silica gel with a hydroxylated surface and the same silica gel with surface-bonded amine and nitrile groups. A linear relationship was found between retention and the number of π-electrons in the molecule, the size of the molecule and the different types of carbon atoms in the molecule. The different carbon atoms in a PAH molecule contribute differently to the retention and this contribution depends on the nature of the polar functional groups on the adsorbent's surface and on the nature and concentration of a polar modifier present in a non-polar eluent.