ABSTRACT
The stochastic theory of chromatography belongs to level two; i.e., it is truly a chromatographic theory. The use of powerful methods based on the characteristic function made it possible to fully develop the stochastic theory of chromatography, thus solving the major problems of linear chromatography. However, it must be emphasized that the basic idea of the stochastic theory of chromatography belongs to Giddings and Eyring, whereas the subsequent achievements are, instead, due to a most proper choice of the mathematical method together with the proper use of the main results of modern probability theory. This can be interpreted as a sort of theorem in stochastic theory of chromatography, in the sense of equivalence between the sorbing molecule and the sorption site. It must, therefore, be considered not as a simple fitting tool, but as the fundamental peak shape function in linear chromatography, since the Gaussian function is only the zeroth-order term and the limiting expression.
