Two-dimensional optimization using different pairs of variables for the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of a mixture of acidic compounds.

Computer-facilitated method development has been extended for the simultaneous optimization of any two variables in separations by HPLC and other chromatographic procedures (gas chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, etc.). The application of this approach to HPLC method development is illustrated by the reversed-phase separation of a nine-component mixture of organic acids. Two of four variables (temperature, solvent strength (%B), pH and buffer concentration) were separately optimized in terms of selectivity, and the results are compared in terms of which variables and other conditions are most effective in providing maximum resolution for samples that contain ionizable compounds.