Influences of detector time constant variations on efficiency calculations in the standardisation of high performance liquid chromatographic columns

Abstract

This paper reports the influences of detector time constant variations on plate count calculations and peak retention times in the standardisation of high-performance liquid chromatographic columns. A recommendation is made here that column efficiencies should be quoted at zero time constant in order to remove the variability in plate count introduced by varying time constant. For detectors which do not have variable time constant controls, it is recommended that the calculation of plate numbers should be made on solutes having capacity factors in the region 5–6. Further recommendations made are that the peak symmetry correlation ratio should be used to evaluate system performance only when calculated at zero time constant and that the detector time constant should not exceed one hundredth of the peak width for peaks used in the calculation of plate numbers.