The Velocity of Chromatographic Fronts or Waves
Bryan A. Buffham · Journal of Chromatographic Science · 1984
A chromatographic wave is the travelling concentration profile in a chromatographic column that results from the feed concentration being changed from one steady value to another. The position of the wave is defined in terms of the spatial average of the concentration gradient. It is shown that, for the time that the wave is entirely within the column, its velocity depends on equilibrium properties and is independent of the mass-transfer mechanism and velocity profile. This conclusion is true for any isotherm shape.