Number of plates for required separation:
An equation which is useful in determining the number of plates and, thus, the length of column required is given below:
Nreq= 16 Rs2 (α/α - 1)2( k2+ 1/k2)2
where, k´2= capacity factor for peak 2
= Adjusted retention time, X s/Reention time air
where, Rs is the resolution needs, and α is the solvent efficiency both as defined above.