The suitable distribution of zones in both partition and adsorption chromatography is usually obtained by the application of mixed solvents. Solvent composition effects in partition chromatography have been discussed (1, 2). In the case of weak molecular interactions in the mixed phase, the Rm values, as well as log retention times (3), should be approximately linear against the volume composition of the mixed phase. When, however, stable molecular complexes are formed between the solute and one of the solvent component of the mixed phase, the Rm (or log tR) can be linear depending upon the log volume composition of the mixed phase (7, 2, 4-6). Reference ( 6) includes a review of papers on complexation equilibria in gas-liquid chromatography.Solvent composition effects in adsorption chromatography have been investigated by OScik (7) who applied the thermodynamic theory of solutions to explain the effect of the composition of the developing solvent on chromatographic parameters, and to relate the Rm values in complex systems with those obtained in the respective simple solvent systems (8). The elution power of numerous solvents has been quantitatively characterized by Snyder (9-77), who carried out extensive investigations to give a theoretical basis of adsorption chromatography, including the effect of molecular structure and solvent composition on the chromatographic behavior of organic solutes.In the present communication a simple approach will be applied to characterize solvent composition effects in certain types of adsorption systems. The theoretical considerations are analogous to those employed in the treatment of partition systems involving the formation of solvation complexes (2, 4-6).
THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONSAdsorption from solution is a result of competition between the solute and the solvent for the active sites on the adsorbent surface. The molecular interactions involved are often of the hydrogen bond type [nor ^-complexes, (72)]. Accordingly, Kiselev (72) applied to the classification of adsorbents and