in size-exclusion chromatography
symbol: $V_{0}$
symbol: $V_{0}$
synonym: interstitial volume
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.09961
Volume of the mobile phase in the interstices between particles that comprise the stationary phase.
Notes:
- In exclusion chromatography, the interparticle volume of the column is equal to the retention volume of an unretained compound; however, it is not equal to the mobile phase hold-up volume (\(V_{\rm{t}}\); see total mobile-phase volume in column). The reason for this is that in practice the mobile phase molecules are always smaller than the smallest pores of the column packing. Thus, they will enter all the pores available in the packing and therefore will be eluted last. As a contrast, in general liquid chromatography, the mobile-phase hold-up volume (see interparticle volume of the column (in chromatography)) and the retention volume of a non-retained compound are practically equal.
- The term "nterstitial volume" should only be used when there is no risk of confusion with the term used in the wider context of chromatography.