Theoretical plate chromatographic suitability

Having optimised the efficiency of a chromatographic separation the quality of the chromatography can be controlled by applying certain system suitability tests. One of these is the calculation of theoretical plates for a column and there are two other main parameters for assessing performance peak symmetry and the resolution between critical pairs of peaks. A third performance test, the peak purity parameter, can be applied where two-dimensional detectors such as diode or coulometric array or mass spectrometry detectors are being used. The reproducibility of peak retention times is also an important parameter for controlling performance. 

Chromatographic system (see Chromatography, in the general procedure (621)) The liquid chromatography is equipped with a 280-nm detector and a 4.6 mm x 15-cm column that contains 5-/im packing L7. The flow-rate is about 0.8 ml/min. Chromatograph the System suitability solution, and record the peak responses as directed for Procedure the capacity factor, k , is not less than 6 the column efficiency is not less than 3000 theoretical plates the tailing factor is not more than 1.5 and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for replicate injections is not more than 1%. 

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