TOTAL CHROMATOGRAPHIC OPTIMIZATION (TOCO) .1. SIMULTANEOUS-OPTIMIZATION OF MANY VARIABLES IN LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

The following chromatographic variables are totally optimized based on the recently developed information theory of optimization: mobile phase composition, column length, flow rate, wavelength, and the amount of internal standard. The optimal internal standard is selected from among six candidates. Two types of optimal conditions (Φ- and θ{symbol}-optimals) are proposed: the Φ-optimal is defined as the most precise analysis (the maximal Φ) while the θ{symbol}-optimal is the most efficient (rapid) analysis (the maximal θ{symbol}). The observation times for the determination of an antipyretics mixture (three components) in liquid chromatography are ca. 50 s for the θ{symbol}-optimal and ca. 8 min for the Φ-optimal. The reliability of the Φ- and θ{symbol}-optimals is verified by experiments. © 1990 Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.