AbstractA systems approach is applied to the analysis of chromatogram resolution dispersion, or zone broadening, in gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Three possible sources of dispersion are considered; these are: the packed columns; the empty tubing between pump and columns, columns and detector, etc.; and the detection system, viz., the differential refractometer cell. It is shown that empty tubing can contribute significantly to the degree of dispersion and to skewness of elution curves and that this dispersion should depend on molecular weight of solute (polymer) and diameter and length of the tubing. The importance of dispersion in the empty tubing is compared with that in the packed columns and refractometer cell.
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