On the resolution problem in hyphenated chromatography

The theory of model-free resolution of data matrices from hyphenated chromatography is considered. In this experimental technique the elution products of chromatography are simultaneously analyzed by spectroscopy. A simple example shows that the resolution of spectra for embedded peaks and concentration profiles for embedding peaks is impossible without use of modelling data. General conditions are given for when such resolution can and cannot be performed. These results include and extend those previously obtained by Maeder and Malinowski.