Peak height vs peak area

Peak height is proportional to the instantaneous amount of analyte that is transiting the detector. Peak area is proportional to the sum of all of analyte moleucles that have transited the detector. People are usually interested in the total amount of substance injected into the column.

1. Why is peak area better than peak height?
2. Why is peak area more accurate than peak height HPLC?
3. Is peak height or peak area better for determining concentration by HPLC?
4. What does peak area mean?

Why is peak area better than peak height?

The repeatability of peak area is much better than that of peak height. The effect of column temperature on peak area is negligible, while it is very important on peak height, because the retention time and the band width increase rapidly with decreasing temperature.

Why is peak area more accurate than peak height HPLC?

Peak areas are used for most quantitative chromatographic estimations. Peak heights can vary due to distortion of the shapes such as the broadening or fronting and tailing. However, in such situations areas are not affected and show high reproducibility.

Is peak height or peak area better for determining concentration by HPLC?

Height is better than area especially if peaks are poorly resolved;1,10 it is less affected by asymmetry and overlap (high asymmetry increases overlap probability). 11,12 Over a large concentration span, linearity of area is better and area is preferred for better accuracy and precision.

What does peak area mean?

Peak area. The area under the curve of the UV trace to its baseline. This is often correlated with the amount of protein. Peak retention time. The time it takes for a peak to come off your column.