Abstract Microcrystalline triacetylcellulose ( d p = 10–20 μm) was used for analytical liquid chromatography at pressures around 50 bar. 1,3,5-Tri- tert .-butylbenzene is proposed as a compound which is not retained on this sorbent. Thus, reliable information about porosity, linear flow-rates, u , and relative retentions become available for the first time. An attempt was made to obtain the plate height, H , dependence upon u in ethanol. For three racemates, comparable data with four eluents were obtained and discussed with a view to future separtions of enantiomers. A general increase of H values of the enantiomers with increasing k ′ is found for triacetylcellulose as a sorbent.