Evaluation of the retention dependence on the physicochemical properties of solutes in reversed-phase liquid chromatographic linear gradient elution based on linear solvation energy relationships

This paper describes the results of the evaluation of retention dependence on the physicochemical properties of solutes in linear gradient elution by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) based on linear solvation energ y relationships (LSERs). Retention time data on Inertsil ODS(3) column by l inear gradient elution were collected for both acetonitrile-water and metha nol-water binary mobile phases under various gradient steepness. Based on t he LSERs, the retention times were linearly correlated with the physicochem ical properties (size, dipolarity, and hydrogen bond donor-acceptor acidity and basicity) of solutes. As predicted by LSERs, very acceptable linear re lationships are observed for both mobile phases. While the magnitudes of th e coefficients are modified by the gradient steepness, their signs are cons istent with those obtained by isocratic elution. As obtained for isocratic elution, the dominant factors to retention in linear gradient elution of RP LC are the solutes' size and hydrogen bond acceptor basicity. The conclusio ns of the study allow us to predict retention in chromatographic method dev elopment by gradient elution. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.