Concentration dependence of lumped mass transfer coefficients: Linear versus non-linear chromatography and isocratic versus gradient operation

The general rate model provides a reliable platform to predict elution bands in both linear and non-linear chromatography provided the required equilibrium functions and the coefficients quantifying the mass transfer in and around the particles are available. If further the variation of the equilibrium functions with changes in the mobile phase composition is known, this model is also able to predict gradient elution chromatography. Significant disadvantages of the model are the need to specify three kinetic coefficients and the amount of computing time required for the numerical solution of the underlying equations. Thus, several simplified models have been suggested lumping mass transfer resistances together. In this work the accuracy of predicting chromatographic bands based on the numerical solution of two lumped models has been analyzed. Elution profiles calculated by (a) the transport-dispersive and (b) the equilibrium-dispersive models were compared between each other and with the solution of the more detailed general rate model. In the analysis performed both linear and non-linear chromatography was considered under isocratic and gradient conditions.