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GenHVL[Y]

GenHVL[Y] - [Y] Generalized Error Model ZDD

The GenHVL[Y] model is a further generalization of the GenHVL[Z] model. The [Y] ZDD allows both the skew, the third moment, and the kurtosis, the fourth moment or 'fatness' of the tails to vary. The GenHVL[Y] model is important in fitting the gradient peaks in HPLC, and preparative peaks with their high overload shapes.

By inserting the [Y] Generalized Error Model ZDD for the PDF, CDF, and CDFc in the GenHVL template, we produce the GenHVL[Y] model:

a₀ = Area

a₁ = Center (as mean of underlying normal ZDD)

a₂ = Width (SD of underlying normal ZDD)

a₃ = HVL Chromatographic distortion ( -1 > a₃ > 1 )

a₄ = Power n in exp(-zn) decay ( .25 > a₄ > 4 ) adjusts kurtosis (fourth moment)

a₅ = ZDD asymmetry ( -1 > a₅ > 1 ), adjusts skew (third moment)

Built in model: GenHVL[Y]

User-defined peaks and view functions: GenHVL[Y](x,a₀,a₁,a₂,a₃,a₄,a₅)

The GenHVL[Y] model with a₄=2 (the specialization for the exp(-z²) Gaussian tailing) reduces to the GenHVL[Z] model.
The GenHVL[Y] model with a₄=1 (the specialization for the exp(-z) exponential tailing) reduces to the GenHVL[YpE] model.
The GenHVL[Yp] model is identical to GenHVL[Y] model, but uses an entirely separate starting estimate algorithm which assumes high overload preparatory peak shapes.

Using the GenHVL[Y] for Gradient HPLC Peaks

The following plot illustrates the use of the GenHVL[Y] for gradient HPLC peaks. The introduction of the gradient changes the decay of the peak, in general producing a decay that is more compact than would occur absent the gradient. In the plot below a fronted and tailed peak is shown for an a₄ decay power that varies from 2.0 to 2.25, where 2.0 is an exp(-z²) decay. A well-designed gradient HPLC peak might be expected to have an a₄ in the range of 2.1-2.2.

Note that we have observed non-gradient analytic peaks to often have a power between 1.96-1.98 when the GenHVL[Y] model is fitted, indicative of a very slight 'fattening' or dilation of the tailing. Any benefit associated with including the kurtosis in an analytic non-gradient peak is likely to be modest, if it exists at all. Please check the F-statistic of the fit of the GenHVL[Y] model against the F-statistic for the GenHVL or GenHVL[Z] models to ensure there is an actual improvement in the modeling power. Do not look specifically at an improvement in the r² or ppm unaccounted variance. The GenHVL[Y] F-statistic will increase in contrast with the GenHVL or GenHVL[Z] model when this adjustment to the fourth moment is statistically significant.

Using the GenHVL[Yp] for Preparative Peaks

When the a₄ power is close to 1, the ZDD approaches a double sided exponential or Laplace density and it can replicate a host of high overload preparatory chromatography peak shapes. When using the GenHVL[Yp] to approximate the extreme overload shapes, the a₅ asymmetry mainly controls the shape of the envelope as in the plot below.

GenHVL[Y] Considerations

When a₄=2 and a₅=0, the ZDD becomes a Gaussian and the model reduces to the HVL.

When a₄=2, the ZDD becomes a [Z] generalized normal and the model reduces to the GenHVL[Z].

As should be apparent from the plots above, two very different estimation algorithms are needed for the gradient and high overload assumptions. One assumes a more compact decay and the other an extremely elongated one. You should use the GenHVL[Y] for the HPLC gradient fits, and the GenHVL[Yp] model for fitting high overload shapes. The GenHVL[Yp] is mathematically identical to the GenHVL[Y] but generates starting estimates that assume a high overload state.

The GenHVL[YpE] model directly uses a Laplace ZDD (there is no power of decay adjustment-a power=1 exponential decay is used). In high overload experiments, we found the [Y] power converged asymptotically to 1.0. This [YpE] model is faster and may be more robust when fitting very high overload shapes.

This a₅ skew adjustment in the ZDD manages the deviations from the Gaussian ideality assumed in the theoretical infinite dilution HVL. This is the statistical asymmetry parameter; small differences in values produce large deviations in analytic shapes. For most IC and non-gradient HPLC peaks, you should expect an a₅ between +0.01 and +0.03 (the deviation from non-ideality is a right skewed or tailed).

In gradient peaks, the instrumental distortions may be masked entirely by the gradient. If the IRF is not removed or included in a gradient fit (neither may be possible), the a₅ parameter will reflect whatever measure of this IRF this skew adjustment is able to capture. Please note that the a₅ adjustment occurs to the skew of the ZDD to which the chromatographic distortion operator is subsequently applied, a very different matter than an IRF convolution integral applied to the end result of the intrinsic chromatographic distortion. The net effect of ignoring the IRF in a gradient fit is to have the a₄ understate the compression that is actually occurring in the gradient since it will be diminished to the extent it also accounts the IRF tailing.

This a₅ skew adjustment in the ZDD manages the deviations from the Gaussian ideality assumed in the theoretical infinite dilution HVL. This is the statistical asymmetry parameter; small differences in values produce large deviations in shapes. For most IC and non-gradient HPLC peaks, you should expect an a₄ between +0.01 and +0.03 (the deviation from non-ideality is a right skewed or tailed).

We have often observed a small modeling power improvement when using the GenHVL[Y] model with non-gradient analytic peaks. The power is typically between 1.96-1.98, and as such the benefit of adding the kurtosis to the modeling will be small. You should use the GenHVL[Y] model cautiously for fitting analytic peaks. Use the F-statistic of the fit of the GenHVL[Y] model against the F-statistic for the GenHVL or GenHVL[Z] models to ensure there is an actual improvement in the modeling. The GenHVL[Y] F-statistic will increase in contrast with the GenHVL or GenHVL[Z] model when this adjustment to the fourth moment is statistically beneficial. A high S/N will definitely be needed to even see this benefit.

In most instances, a₄ and a₅ can be assumed constant (shared) across all peaks in the chromatogram. It is strongly recommended that a₄ and a₅ be shared across all peaks.

The addition of a shared a₄ and a₅ parameter to an overall fit can result in orders of magnitude improvement in the goodness of fit.

Both a₄ and a₅ are measures of the deviation from ideality. Changes in either, in fitting a given standard, may well be indicative of column health. The greater the a₅ value, the more the skew is deviating from this Gaussian ZDD assumption of the HVL. For the GenHVL[Y] model, the a₄ may be of equally or even greater importance since additional tailing represents a drizzle of sorts that can impact adjacent peaks. You may wish to use the GenHVL[Y] with a standard and watch for any unexpected changes in either a₄ or a₅.

Note that the a₅ will be most effectively estimated and fitted when the peaks are skewed with some measure of fronting or tailing. Higher concentrations are very good for fitting analytic peaks with this model, assuming that one does not enter into a condition of overload that impacts the quality of the fit.

This model will probably not be effective at all in highly dilute samples with a poor S/N ratio since such peaks will generally have much less intrinsic skew and the tailing will be poorly defined due to inaccuracies in the baseline subtraction.

The GenHVL[Y]<irf> composite fits, the model with a convolution integral describing the instrumental distortions, isolate the intrinsic chromatographic distortion from the IRF instrumental distortion only when the data are of a sufficient S/N and quality to realize independent deconvolutions within the fitting. For very dilute and noisy analytic samples, you will probably have to remove the IRF prior using independent determinations of the IRF parameters.

The GenHVL[Y]<ge> model uses the <ge>IRF, consistently the best of the convolution models as it fits both kinetic and probabilistic instrument distortions. Bear in mind, however, that this fit must extract the kinetic instrumental distortion, the probabilistic instrumental distortion, the a₅ intrinsic skew to the chromatographic distortion, the a₄ intrinsic tailing in the ZDD, and the primary a₃ chromatographic distortion (very possibly for for each peak). Especially for this model, it is recommended the IRF parameters be determined by fits of a clean standard, and the instrumental distortions removed by deconvolving the known IRF prior to fitting production peak data.

Since peaks often increase in width with retention time, the a₂ will probably be varied (independently fitted) for each peak.

Since peaks often evidence increased tailing with retention time, the a₃ will probably be varied (independently fitted) for each peak.

If you are dealing with a small range of time, however, or of you are dealing with overlapping or hidden peaks in a narrow band, a₂ and/or a₃ can be held constant across the peaks in this band.

The GenHVL[Y] model is part of the unique content in the product covered by its copyright.