Isocratic prediction —

The conceptual basis for understanding the connection between isocratic and gradient elution is well established and is called "linear solvent strength theory".22 27 Linear solvent strength theory proposes that, for a given solute, mobile phase, and column, if one measures the retention time of an analyte at two organic component concentrations, it will be possible to predict the retention time with any other mobile phase composition. The k value that would be observed in pure water, kw, is related to the actual k by the relationship... 

Natural extracts generally contain molecules with highly different retention characteristics which cannot be separated under isocratic conditions. The application of gradient elution is a necessity for these types of natural samples. However, the optimization of gradient elution on the base of isocratic data is cumbersome and the prediction of retention in gradient elution from isocratic data is difficult. Retention in an isocratic system can be described by a polynomial function ... 

The method has been proposed for the prediction of retention data in isocratic systems from data measured in gradient elution and vice versa [84], Similar calculation methods may be very important in the analysis of natural extracts containing pigments with highly different chemical structure and retention characteristics. The calculations make possible the rational design of optimal separation conditions with a minimal number of experimental runs. 

Method development is vastly simplified by computer simulations using commercial software. With input from a small number of real experiments, a program can predict the effects of solvent composition and temperature in isocratic or gradient separations. You can select optimum conditions in minutes with the computer instead of days in the lab. Of course, you must verify the prediction by a real experiment. Commercial software saves huge expenses in method development in industrial laboratories. 

M. A. Quarry, R. L. Grob, and L. R. Snyder, Prediction of isocratic retention data from two or more gradient runs. Analysis of some associated errors, Anal. Chem., 58 901 (1986). 

If a more accurate prediction of the isocratic elution behaviour is required, then the use of two [529] or more [531,532] different gradients may provide a possibility. The disadvantage of this method, besides the need to perform additional experiments, is that instrumental factors can give rise to quite considerable errors [529,530], so that extreme precautions may be required. 

The Sentinel gradient optimization method, by analogy with the isocratic Sentinel method, requires a minimum of 7 chromatograms to be recorded before the optimum conditions can be predicted and it requires the retention data of all solute components to be established at each experimental location. 

The predictive method of Jandera et al. [628] requires knowledge of the isocratic retention data of all solute components in binary and (preferably) ternary mobile phase mixtures. Once these data are available, the method may be very helpful in obtaining an adequate (but not an optimum) separation with a ternary gradient. Unfortunately, the data required for the application of this predictive method are almost never available, and hence a large number of experiments need to be performed before any predictions can take place. When this is the case the method is of very little practical use. 

As it was predicted by the simulation software, the use of a pressure gradient allow to increase process productivity. In this last configuration, the production of the pilot plant is increased about 4 times compared to the first "isocratic" separation. The effect of the pressure gradient on the productivity can be estimated, dividing the experimental production by the... 

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