Flow Rate Dependence of Elution Volumes in Size Exclusion Chromatography: A Review

Abstract

This review summarizes experimental data which indicate that elution volumes can change with flow rate in size exclusion chromatography experiments. The mechanisms resulting in flow rate dependent elution volumes are discussed. They can be roughly divided into two classes: 1) anomalous effects, and 2) flow rate dependence of the partitioning of molecules into the micropores of the column packing. The partitioning can depend on flow rate if the partition coefficient is concentration dependent, if viscous fingering occurs, or if molecular migration phenomena are important.