Statistical Programming of Chemical Separation Profiles

• Activity Number: 505
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 1, 2012 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Physical and Engineering Sciences
• Author(s): H. Dennis Tolley*+ and Samuel E. Tolley and Milton L. Lee
• Companies: Brigham Young University and Brigham Young University and Brigham Young University

Abstract

This paper presents the application of statistical feedback to design thermal profiles used in capillary separation methods of chemical compounds. One of the fundamental principles of separation science is the differential response, usually in retention and transport, of different components of a chemical sample in a capillary. Recent developments in the use of negative gradient heat waves within a column gives the analyst the option of performing rapid sequential separations with feedback information at the end of each separation. This paper presents the statistical issues that emerge in using feedback data to adjust parameter settings for subsequent chemical separations. This presentation illustrates statistical design type methods for specification of thermal gradient profiles and the resulting reduction of uncertainty in quantitation resulting from combining multiple separations. This paper proposes that one of the greatest benefits of negative gradient focusing in chromatograms is the ability to alter the separation dynamics across sequential analyses to increase separation efficiency and accuracy.