Chromatography Forum

Please help me settle an argument.
Is the void volume/time of the column taken into account by HPLC software when calculating system suitability parameters(resolution, tailing, theoretical plates etc.) and if yes, then how/when?
Empower asks for void volume in a mandatory way to calculate system suitability parameters, but in chemstation these calculations are made even if you don't enter any void volume (or is a default value used?!)
I wasn't really sure, so i didn't want to argue if i didn't know for sure.
Please help,
Thanks...regards, Leni

For calculation of the "usual" suspects regarding SST, i.e. tailing factor, plate count and resolution, the void time t0 is NOT needed. Have a look at the formulas, e.g. here:

http://www.separations.us.tosohbioscien ... ations.htm

t0 is needed for calulation of capacity factor (retention factor) k, which might sometimes be a parameter also included in SST.

For calculation of the "usual" suspects regarding SST, i.e. tailing factor, plate count and resolution, the void time t0 is NOT needed. Have a look at the formulas, e.g. here:

http://www.separations.us.tosohbioscien ... ations.htm

t0 is needed for calulation of capacity factor (retention factor) k, which might sometimes be a parameter also included in SST.

Thank you,
yes i have also conducted some research and came up with the same conclusions. Thanks again.
Leni