Chromatography:

Theory of retention

Free
y y Bound y

Slower release
Diffusion Diffusion

z z t
 Retention
nS
Capacity factor k 
nM
VS c S VS  1  
k  K k  K 
VM c M VM   
y t tR
M
'
t R  (t R  t M ) tR '
k 
tM
t
 1   VC 
t R  t M 1  K tM 
   Q
VC
tR     K  K 
Q
 Resolution and selectivity
t R2

tR1

tM

Concentration

w1 w2

Time

t R 2  t R1 K 2 k 2 t R 2  t M
R   
0.5 w1  w2  K 1 k1 t R1  t M