A Theory of Chemical Separations: The Fundamental Equation for Ideal Partitioning Separation Systems

The fundamental conservation-of-mass equation is derived for linear one-dimensional chemical systems in which no lateral diffusion or rate control exists. The theoretical results are applied to (a) a comparison of the fields of chemical separations, thermodynamics, and kinetics; (b) the derivation of a general equation for gradient elution and programmed temperature chromatography; and (c) the description of three new carrier chromato-graphic techniques, carrier magnetochromatography, solid phase carrier electrochromatography, and inverse carrier electrochromatography. The role of chemical equilibria in chromatographic systems is briefly discussed.