Recent applications of retention modelling in liquid chromatography

Recent applications of retention modelling in liquid chromatography (2015-2020) are comprehensively reviewed. The fundamentals of the field, which date back much longer, are summarized. Retention modeling is used in retention-mechanism studies, for determining physical parameters, such as lipophilicity, and for various more-practical purposes, including method development and optimization, method transfer, and stationary-phase characterization and comparison. The review focusses on the effects of mobile-phase composition on retention, but other variables and novel models to describe their effects are also considered. The five most-common models are addressed in detail, i.e. the log-linear (linear-solvent-strength) model, the quadratic model, the log-log (adsorption) model, the mixed-mode model, and the Neue-Kuss model. Isocratic and gradient-elution methods are considered for determining model parameters and the evaluation and validation of fitted models is discussed. Strategies in which retention models are applied for developing and optimizing one- and two-dimensional liquid chromatographic separations are discussed. The review culminates in some overall conclusions and several concrete recommendations.