Metrics of separation in chromatography

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Chromatography

Background:

• Existing chromatographic separation metrics like resolution and peak capacity have limitations in consistency and additivity.
• Quantifying separation across arbitrary intervals in chromatographic analysis remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a new, consistent, and additive metric for chromatographic separation, termed the separation measure (S).
• To define a peak capacity (n) that aligns with the separation measure and incorporates beneficial features of existing definitions.

Main Methods:

• Development of the mathematical definition for the separation measure (S).
• Exploration of the additive property of S across chromatographic intervals.
• Formulation of a new definition for peak capacity (n) compatible with S.

Main Results:

• The proposed separation measure (S) provides an additive quantification of peak separation.
• S allows for the consistent measurement of separation for peak pairs and arbitrary intervals.
• A new, consistent definition of peak capacity (n) is presented.

Conclusions:

• The separation measure (S) offers a significant advancement in quantifying chromatographic separation due to its additivity and consistency.
• The proposed metric and associated peak capacity definition enhance the analytical capabilities for complex chromatographic data.