Chromatographic retention of nine solutes by the using of linear solvation energy relationships in RP-HPLC

Linear solvation energy relationships (LSERs) are used to investigate the fundamental chemical interactions governing the retention of nine aromatic compounds on a C18 column. The mobile phases studied involve ionic liquids 1-Methyl-3-octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([OMIm][BF4]) (0.003–0.009M), with 5 to 20% acetonitrile in water as mobile phase modifiers. The ability of the LSERs to account for the chemical interactions underlying solute retention is shown. A comparison of predicted and experimental retention factors suggests that LSER formalism is able to reproduce adequately the experimental retention factors of the solutes studied in the different experimental conditions investigated.