Use of spectral mapping technique for the comparison of polymer-coated HPLC supports

The retention time of some model compounds was determined on various reverse-phases high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) columns (polyethylene-coated silica, alumina, zirconia, and octadecyl-coated silica and alumina). The retention capacity and retention selectivity of the columns was separated by the spectral mapping technique followed by two-dimensional nonlinear mapping. Calculation indicated that both the retention capacity and selectivity of the columns considerably depends on the type of the original uncoated support and on the quality and quantity of the hydrocarbon ligand. The result suggest that spectral mapping technique can be successfully used for the separation and determination of retention capacity and retention selectivity of various HPLC columns.