Column selection for pharmaceutical analyses based on a column classification using four test parameters.

This paper focuses on the usability of a previously developed column classification system, applied to pharmaceutical analyses. The separation of two drugs from their respective related substances was investigated on 65 new reversed-phase liquid chromatographic columns. The chromatographic procedure for fluoxetine hydrochloride was performed according to the method prescribed in the European Pharmacopoeia monograph while the separation of gemcitabine hydrochloride was carried out according to the United States Pharmacopeia monograph. It was shown that the column ranking system is a helpful tool in the selection of a suitable column.