The contribution of molecular diffusion to peak broadening was studied in a reversed-phase HPLC system, consisting of a monolithic silica C18 column and methanol-water mobile phase. Study on the band broadening effect of holding a solute in a column or elution at very low linear velocity of mobile phase allowed facile determination of the contribution of the molecular diffusion term. Less obstruction against molecular diffusion, or the faster axial band dispersion in a monolithic silica column than in a particle-packed column, was found both in mobile phase and in stationary phase.
