Statistical evaluation of linear solvation energy relationship models used to characterize chemical selectivity in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Characterization of retention and selectivity differences between surfactants in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) using linear solvation energy relationships (LSERs) has been given a significant amount of attention in the last four years. This report evaluates the validity of using the two LSER models that have been used to fit retention in MEKC in the literature. The results and the fit of the revised model and parameters developed by Abraham and coworkers are compared to the original model developed by Kamlet, Taft, and coworkers. LSERs can generally only be used as a comparative tool to describe the selectivity differences between surfactant systems used in MEKC. With this in mind, it was determined that the results of both models essentially provide the same information about these differences. However, the revised model and parameters have been found to yield a statistically better fit of the MEKC retention data as well as providing more chemically sound LSER coefficients.