Error Tracking Down: A Peculiar Playground?

Abstract

Errors in an analytical method are often not recognized as such or are underrated. Therefore, it is useful to compile and publish them. Error tracking down can even be an exciting field of research. Two different errors which can occur in chromatography are presented: The area of poorly resolved peaks cannot be integrated accurately by the usual integrators or data systems due to geometrical reasons. Second, injected air can give rise to a retained peak in HPLC. Air injection can happen during a malfunction of the autosampler but the extra peak is unwanted because it can overlap with the analyte peaks.