ABSTRACT
This chapter is principally devoted to the two principal groups of theories describing and justifying the results this methodology permits to obtain. These theories are those of plates theory and kinetic theories. The plates theory interprets the migration of a substance according to a non-ideal system. The condition of ideal chromatography is subscribed when the equilibrium constant K = Cs/Cm is satisfied in a length of column infinitely short. This fragment of the column was formerly called a “theoretical plate”. Cs and Cm are the concentrations of the solute (to be separated) in a theoretical plate at equilibrium. The theory demonstrates that the obtained elution curves look like successive Gauss curves which widen with the progress of the experiment. The theory of plates also leads to an equation permitting the calculation of the number of moles in the stationary and mobile phases after n operations of elution. Kinetic theories and their results are just cited except that of Van Deemter and all of which are somewhat developed, given their practical importance.
