Comparison of Amperometric and Coulometric Electrchemical Detectors for HPLC Through a Figure of Merit

Abstract Performance characteristics of electrochemical detectors for high performance liquid chromatooraphy are difficult to predict from presently avaliable information relating response to design parameters. A fiqure of merit is proposed which allows an operational comparison to be made, based upon specific response, noise and band spread. On this basis, it is shown that a meaningful comparison of an amperometric design with a coulometric design can be obtained and that, contrary to previous predictions, this coulometric type is generally superior.