Deconvolution of partially overlapping tailing peaks in diode array high performance liquid chromatography using purity ratios

A new approach to deconvolution of diode array HPLC data is described. It is illustrated by the chromatograms of 2- and 3-hydroxypyridine undertaken at pH 4.8, 5.1 and 5.2 representing three different qualities of resolution from almost totally overlapping to well resolved. In all cases peaks are tailing, typical of many real situations. The first step is to select wavelengths using the normalised spectra at each point in time. Next a purity curve is obtained from these wavelengths, which is related to a real purity curve used for deconvolution. It is shown that the method is robust over the full resolvability range.