Question

In preparing a hexane-acetone gradient for an alumina HPLC column, is it desirable to increase or decrease the proportion of hexane as the column is eluted?

Short answer

It is desirable to increase the proportion of hexane as the column in eluted while preparing a hexane-acetone gradient for an alumina HPLC column.

Step-by-step solution

Given Information

Whether it is desirable to increase or decrease the proportion of hexane as the column in eluted while preparing a hexane-acetone gradient for an alumina HPLC column.

Explanation

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a column chromatography which is used to separate the components of the dissolved solution. It works on high pressure. HPLC is a technique which involves the injection of a small volume of liquid sample in a tube. This tube is packed with a liquid phase called stationary phase (alumina). This involves chemical and physical interaction of molecules and particles.

By use of the detector, the separated components of the compound are detected at the exit of the system. The detectors are like a flow-through device.

The polarities are mobile phase increased with the polar solute elutes, which leads to increase the elution time. The hexane is used as a polar solvent. The hexane and acetone are used in normal phase system. Hence, the hexane should be increased as the column is eluted.