ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how one can maximize the peak capacity of the first-dimension separation in a given time. A one-dimensional separation can be thought of as a line of boxes each of which can hold one peak. The subject of peak capacity in chromatography is of great importance. Many eminent chromatographers have contributed markedly to our understanding of gradient elution chromatography; however, most relevant to the present manuscript is the work of the late Uwe Neue, which is a very important combination of peak capacity theory with the theory of reversed-phase chromatography. Peak capacity is a metric of the separating power of a chromatographic method that is most relevant when dealing with samples of high complexity, that is, samples that contain many species. The basic principles of the optimization of isocratic performance as measured by column efficiency and time have been known for quite some time.
