GC017 Retention Factor

 

The retention factor, k, is the ratio of the mass of solute (not its concentration) in the stationary phase to the mass in the mobile phase:

The retention factor is measured experimentally as the ratio of the adjusted retention time, t′R, to the gas hold‐up time tM

The larger the value of k, the longer the solute will be retained in the column. The relevance of this factor is that can be obtained easily from the chromatogram.

The retention factor and the distribution constant are related through the phase ratio (beta). Kc can be broken down into two terms:

Kc equals the product of the retention factor and the phase ratio

In formula: Kc = k x beta

Beta is defined as the ratio between the volume of the mobile phase (VM) and the stationary phase (Vs). In formula

Beta = Vm / Vs

For capillary columns, with a known value of film thickness (df), beta is given by:

Beta equals the square difference between the radius of the capillary column (rc) and the film thickness (df) divided by 2 times the radius of the capillary column times the film thickness.

Most of the time, rc is much greater than df, and we can make:

Beta equals the radius of the capillary column (rc) divided by 2 times the film thickness (df).

Capillary columns have values of beta in the hundreds, and are about ten times higher than the values for packed columns. Beta cannot be easily calculated for packed columns. The parameter phase volume ratio is helpful in selecting a proper column.

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