Effect of stationary phase properties and solute molecular size on retention of PAHs in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary The relationship between the retention of PAHs having various molecular sizes and the carbon contents (%) of bonded stationary phases with various types of ligands were investigated. The examined stationary phases were phenyl, diphenyl, triphenyl and benzyl-bonded silicas. The data indicated that sometimes it is not true that the retention of any solute relates linearly to the carbon content of the stationary phase. As the result, it is suggested that the pore size distribution of the silica support, the bulkiness of the ligand bonded to the silica and the molecular size of solute should also be considered before any precise statement can be made.