Abstract
Prediction of retention times in transition metal-mandelate and transition metal-tartrate complex systems were studied on the cation exchanger. Plots of k' vs [mandelate] and k' vs [tartrate] were obtained under the condition of a constant competing cation concentration. The equation to predict the retention time of transition metal ion was derived from the ion exchange equilibria. Individual capacity factors (${k_1}',\;{k_2}'$) and stability constants ($K_1,\;K_2$) of the complexes were calculated from the non-linear least square method. Good resolution of the transition metals was predicted by the stepwise equation in the gradient method. The values of retention times from the calculation and the experiment agreed well each other.