Nomenclature and conventions in comprehensive multidimensional chromatography

At the First International Symposium on Comprehensive Multidimensional Gas Chromatography, held 6-7 March in Volendam, The Netherlands, a session was organized to discuss the terminology and nomenclature used in this emerging field. Unanimous agreement was reached on many issues. Because of the great importance of mutual understanding among chromatographers, these agreed definitions, terms and symbols are presented here to a larger audience. We will first discuss some significant issues. These include usage of the words comprehensive and orthogonal, and of the multiplex sign as a short notation for comprehensive twodimensional separations. At the end of the paper we include a list of additional definitions and suggested symbols.