Preliminary work indicates that both the ratio of column length to diameter and the Reynolds Number affect the quality of resolution in column elution. If these two dimensionless groups are held constant, the quality of the elution pattern will be the same in any column. It appears that the degree of resolution is a function of the velocity profile and dispersion in the column. Constant L D and Reynolds Number result in dynamic similarity and in similar velocity profiles and dispersion characteristics, irrespective of column diameter. Also, it appears that the lower the Reynolds Number and the greater the ratio of column length to diameter, the more effective is the purification. © 1969.