Gel permeation chromatography. III. Molecular shape versus elution

Rules were evolved to predict elution of linear, branched, and polar compounds in GPC, based on testing of 130 compounds. With these rules and in tetrahydrofuran solvent, data for all but a few compounds correlated onto a single calibration line. With small molecules, elution often changed, due to hydrogen bonding to the solvent; this occurred with alcohols, acids, and some chlorinated compounds, but not with mercaptans. Branched and linear isomers usually eluted at about the same point. One may conclude that structural elements were additive in their effect on elution volume in this study.