By syx_gf on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 06:14 pm:
What is the simple definition of column plate? Why is it called "plate", though in consist of round particles not pieces of plates?
Please do not give me the formula. :)
By Bob on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 06:01 am:
How far an analyte travels relative to how wide it gets.
high plate count then means your analyte can travel a long distance with very little broadening.
By tom jupille on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 09:15 am:
The original model of chromatography dynamics used the same mathematical formalism that applies to distillation (a series of discrete equilibrations between two phases). In a process-scale distillation column, this can occur on actual plates. Most chromatography is a continous process, so the "plates" are only theoretical.
The "plate model" is no longer used much, but the term persists (as Bob pointed out) as a measure of the ratio of peak broadening to migration.