CHROMATOGRAPHY, Vol. 31 (2010), No. 1, pp. -1

The moment theory was used for the analysis of chromatographic behavior. Information about the characteristics and mechanism of chromatographic separation in RPLC mode was quantitatively derived by analyzing experimental data of pulse response (PR) measurements from kinetic and thermodynamic points of view. Especially, some fundamentals of surface diffusion were studied in detail because it has a predominant contribution to the mass transfer in the stationary phase, hence a significant influence on the column efficiency at high flow velocity (fast chromatography). New moment equations were developed for various packing materials having different structural characteristics of shapes and porosities, such as monoliths and shell-type particles, for high speed separations. The peak parking (PP) method was also used for the kinetic study on the molecular migration in the columns and for the development of some experimental techniques relating to the kinetic study on chromatography. The PR and PP methods complement each other. The combination of the two methods and the moment theory leads to a comprehensive strategy for studying the mass transfer kinetics in chromatography.