Variation of retention volume with molecular weight of polyethylene glycol and with carbon number of n-alkanols.

Analysis of McReynolds' data for n-alkanols on polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights shows a continuous variation in retention properties up to molecular weights greater than 6000 and probably greater than 20,000. It is concluded that polyethylene glycol used as a "standard" stationary phase should have either very high or closely controlled molecular weight. The relation between log Vg and carbon number of the alkanol is nonlinear at C4 and below with negative deviations around 10% for C2 and C3 and a positive deviation of 25% for C1.