Peaks, shape

Mikkers et al. [1] concluded that symmetrical peaks are obtained only when the mobility of the carrier co-ion closely matches that of the analyte ion. If mobility of the analyte ion is higher, fronted peaks will result. 

Hjerten studied conductivity differences at boundary between analyte zone and carrier electrolyte. 

The simplest description of retention behaviour considered previously suggests that all molecules of a particular analyte should travel down the column at the same rate and emerge at exactly the same time. If this were the case, chromatography would be easy and poor resolution due to overlapping peaks would be very rare. 

---

The scan rate, u = EIAt, plays a very important role in sweep voltannnetry as it defines the time scale of the experiment and is typically in the range 5 mV s to 100 V s for nonnal macroelectrodes, although sweep rates of 10 V s are possible with microelectrodes (see later). The short time scales in which the experiments are carried out are the cause for the prevalence of non-steady-state diflfiision and the peak-shaped response. Wlien the scan rate is slow enough to maintain steady-state diflfiision, the concentration profiles with time are linear within the Nemst diflfiision layer which is fixed by natural convection, and the current-potential response reaches a plateau steady-state current. On reducing the time scale, the diflfiision layer caimot relax to its equilibrium state, the diffusion layer is thiimer and hence the currents in the non-steady-state will be higher. 

The current during the stripping step is monitored as a function of potential, giving rise to peak-shaped voltammograms similar to that shown in Figure 11.37. The peak current is proportional to the analyte s concentration in the solution. 

Fig. 14. Molecular weight characteristics of novolac resins. Shown is the size-exclusion chromatogram for a typical commercial novolac polymer. The unsymmetrical peak shape reflects the multimodal molecular weight distribution of the polymer.

Powder diffraction patterns have three main features that can be measured t5 -spacings, peak intensities, and peak shapes. Because these patterns ate a characteristic fingerprint for each crystalline phase, a computer can quickly compare the measured pattern with a standard pattern from its database and recommend the best match. Whereas the measurement of t5 -spacings is quite straightforward, the determination of peak intensities can be influenced by sample preparation. Any preferred orientation, or presence of several larger crystals in the sample, makes the interpretation of the intensity data difficult. 

Measurement of Residual Stress and Strain. The displacement of the 2 -value of a particular line in a diffraction pattern from its nominal, nonstressed position gives a measure of the amount of stress retained in the crystaUites during the crystallization process. Thus metals prepared in certain ways (eg, cold rolling) have stress in their polycrystalline form. Strain is a function of peak width, but the peak shape is different than that due to crystaUite size. Usually the two properties, crystaUite size and strain, are deterrnined together by a computer program. 

Signal processing pertains to a wide collection of tools used to refine the information contained in a raw analytical signal and to estimate pertinent signal parameters such as peak shape, area, and amphtude. Signal processing apphcations typically involve either energy-variant or time-variant spectra. 

Although the conventional mass spectra of the five C- nitro derivatives of indazole are nearly identical, the corresponding metastable peak shapes associated with the loss of NO-can be used to differentiate the five isomers (790MS114). The protonation and ethylation occurring in a methane chemical ionization source have been studied for a variety of aromatic amines, including indazoles (80OMS144). As in solution (Section 4.04.2.1.3), the N-2 atom is the more basic and the more nucleophilic (Scheme 5). 

The temperature of the ineoming mobile phase will also alter the environment within tire eoluirrtr.. Some laboratories have advoeated that equilibration of the ineoming mobile phase with the eolumn temperature is essential for good peak shapes and optimum effieieney. However, a number of studies have now demonstrated that if the mobile phase is eooler than the eolumn the effieieney is improved, in some eases quite markedly. 

ANALYSIS OF OVERLAPPING PEAK-SHAPED ANALYTICAL SIGNALS BY THE TRIANGLE HEIGHT... 

To sum up, in some instances the proposed tangent method and procedure of systematic error correction allows excluding the necessity of mathematical or chemical resolution of overlapped peak-shaped analytical signals. 

Thermal changes resulting from solute interactions with the two phases are definitely second-order effects and, consequently, their theoretical treatment is more complex in nature. Thermal effects need to be considered, however, because heat changes can influence the peak shape, particularly in preparative chromatography, and the consequent temperature changes can also be explored for detection purposes. 

This extreme condition rarely happens but serious peak distortion and loss of resolution can still result. This is particularly so if the sensor volume is of the same order of magnitude as the peak volume. The problem can be particularly severe when open tubular columns and columns of small diameter are being used. Scott and Kucera measured the effective sensor cell volume on peak shape and their results are shown in Figure 13. 

The column used in the upper chromatogram was 24 cm long, 4.6 mm I.D. the solvent was tetrahydrofuran, the solute benzene and the flow rate 1 ml/min. The column used in the lower chromatogram was 1 m long, 1 mm I.D. using the same solvent and solute but at a mobile phase flow rate of 40 ml/min. It is seen that the reduction in cell volume has a dramatic effect on peak shape. The large 25 pi cell... 

The problem is made more difficult because these different dispersion processes are interactive and the extent to which one process affects the peak shape is modified by the presence of another. It follows if the processes that causes dispersion in mass overload are not random, but interactive, the normal procedures for mathematically analyzing peak dispersion can not be applied. These complex interacting effects can, however, be demonstrated experimentally, if not by rigorous theoretical treatment, and examples of mass overload were included in the work of Scott and Kucera [1]. The authors employed the same chromatographic system that they used to examine volume overload, but they employed two mobile phases of different polarity. In the first experiments, the mobile phase n-heptane was used and the sample volume was kept constant at 200 pi. The masses of naphthalene and anthracene were kept... 

In all modes of chromatography, high sample loads distort peak shapes and cause an overall decrease in efficiency due to column overload. Sample loads may be increased by using organic solvents to enhance the solubility of the sample or by using higher column temperatures to lower the viscosity of... 

---