Clearly, the usefulness of a computer‐aided column design program will depend on its ability to predict quickly and accurately, a design which will yield chromatograms closely approximating those obtained experimentally. Such a computer model for designing and specifying operating conditions for optimum performance of either single or serially coupled columns with different stationary phases is described herein. Tests have been performed in order to verify the accuracy of the model. In addition to single column optimization and the design of column combinations which can be used to achieve separations difficult or impossible on a single phase alone, the model has proven quite useful as an aid to the design and development of multicolumn analysis procedures that involve critical timing of valve‐switching sequences.

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Window diagrams that optimize for the separation of only one or a few components in a complex mixture are applied to on-line process analysis when speed of analysis is more important than a complete separation of all components in the sample. A window diagram based on retention indexes is the most useful for quickly evaluating the feasibility of a given pair of phases. The one with the most useful output is one based on partition ratios, as this can be used directly with the columns in hand. A PC-based spreadsheet program with integral specific retention volume data for the common liquid phases is described as a tool for selecting the optimum ratio of lengths for the columns in hand.