A new general equation for retention modeling from the organic modifier content of the mobile phase

Summary

A general equation is presented for modeling retention, using the organic modifier content of the mobile phase. The equation is based on the Box-Cox transform of modifier concentration. Both the semilogarithmic relationship (Soczewiński-Wachtmeister equation) and logarithmic relationship (Snyder-Soczewiński equation) are special cases of the proposed equation. The equation can be fitted easily with free software and an additional coefficient can be interpreted as closeness to the previous models. Even with strong closeness to log-log dependence, the equation still enables extrapolation to zero modifier content. A case study on nine drug-like substances is also discussed, with comparison of 14 previously proposed retention equations found in the literature.