Linear gradient stationary phase optimized selectivity LC development and applications

Stationary phase optimised selectivity liquid chromatography (SOSLC) is a technique in RP-LC in order to tune the selectivity of separations by means of the stationary phase as parameter to be optimised. After optimisation, a tailor-made column can be obtained, existing out of a sequence of column segments of different stationary phases, whereby the retention times of the compounds and the selectivity are predicted. Originally, SOSLC was introduced as a tool that is only valid in isocratic analysis mode. Due to the drawback that isocratic analysis is intrinsic insufficient to separate complex mixtures of compounds, relatively differing in polarity, a new optimisation method and prediction algorithm is developed in order to apply the SOSLC principle in linear gradient mode. This new approach of gradient SOSLC is hereby presented and illustrated by means of a mixture of steroids