Application of uniform design and genetic algorithm in optimization of reversed-phase chromatographic separation

An optimization method based on uniform design in conjunction with genetic algorithm is described. According to the proposed method, the uniform design technique was applied to the design of starting experiments, which can reduce the number of experiments compared with traditional simultaneous methods, such as simplex. And genetic algorithm was used in optimization procedure, which can improve the rapidity of optimal procedure. The hierarchical chromatographic response function was modified to evaluate the separation equality of a chromatogram. An iterative procedure was adopted to search for the optimal condition to improve the accuracy of predicted retention and the quality of the chromatogram. The optimization procedure was tested in optimization of the chromatographic separation of 11 alkaloids in reversed-phase ion pair chromatography and satisfactory optimal result was obtained. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.