Liquid chromatography at critical conditions in ternary mobile phases: gradient elution along the critical line

In ternary mobile phases consisting of acetone, methanol, and water, the retention of PEG on reversed-phase columns is independent on molar mass at certain compositions of the mobile phase. Along this critical adsorption line, the retention of polypropylene glycol varies quite strongly, which can be utilized in the separation of block copolymers. Gradient elution along the critical line allows a baseline separation of all oligomers in polypropylene glycol up to approximately 25 propylene oxide units. The same resolution can be achieved in the separation of ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymers, regardless of the length of the ethylene oxide block.