Nonlinear function retention model in weak acid anion chromatography

A nonlinear function retention model for anion chromatography is developed, which is able to predict the retention behavior of polyvalent weak acid anions using sodium hydroxide as eluent. The relationship between the retention factors of phosphate and resorcinol and eluent concentration was studied with sodium hydroxide as the eluent. Both retention factors of the analyte anions first increase then decrease with the increase of sodium hydroxide concentration. The estimated values agree with the measured values with correlation coefficients for phosphate and resorcinol of 0.9920 and 0.9916, respectively, which shows the nonlinear function model is a useful addition to the theory of anion chromatography. The model is able to optimize the separation of polyvalent weak acid anions.