Factorial Design in the Study of the Effects of Selected Liquid Chromatographic Conditions on Resolution and Capacity Factors

Abstract

Certain factors associated with the flow rate and minor components of the mobile phase are known to exert a significant effect on various liquid chromatographic parameters. By using the beta-phenylethylamine compounds ephedrine and (±)-norephedrine (phenylpropanol-amine) as model solutes, the effects of pH, flow rate and concentrations of organic solvents and organic modifier in the mobile phase on solute peak resolutions and capacity factors were examined. A full factorial design was used and polynomial equations were derived to evaluate the quantitative relationships between the experimental conditions and the chromatographic parameters. A simple equation is proposed for the rapid estimation of resolution between solute peaks.