Factor Units Limits Level(-1) Level (+1) Nominal(0)
A. pH phosphate buffer   ± 0.5 6.5 7.5 7
B. Buffer concentration mM ± 2 3 7 5
C. Flow rate mL min-1 ± 0.2 1.2 0.8 1.00
D. Initial % solvent B  (step1) % ± 2 18 22 20
E. First gradient program time (step 2) Min ± 0.2 0.8 1.2 1
F. %  solvent B  (step 3) % ± 2 38 42 40
G. Second held time (step 3) Min ± 1 9 11 10
           
Level 0: optimal values
Level +1: upper values
Level -1: lower values
Table 3: Variables selected as factors and values chosen as levels.