Question about chromatography?

Question

What is a practical solution if your analyte does not elute from the column? Does that mean k' is infinite?

Answer 1

In column chromatography, the elution of analytes is a function of both the stationary and mobile phases (among others things, like temperature).

If the analyte does not elute, then either the stationary or mobile phase was not chosen correctly. K' might be very large without being infinite. The compound may be moving through the column, but too slowly to elute entirely from the column.

For example: if the stationary phase is silica gel and the compound does not elute with alcohol or water, then a basic or acidic aqueous solution might be needed to elute the compound.