NORMAL-PHASE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH RELAY GRADIENT ELUTION .1. DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD

The utility of normal-phase HPLC with relay gradient elution covering the entire practical range of polarity from hexane through water is de monstrated. The separations have been carried out on a LiChrospher 100 Diol column. Analytes without appreciable UV absorbance have been det ected by means of an evaporative light-scattering detector. The method presented is suitable for the classification of sample components acc ording to their polarity. The potential utility of the technique in pr ograms such as profiling, classification and screening of biological m aterials, metabolic studies and preparative-scale isolation is discuss ed.