In HPLC, how does column diameter affect the retention time?
The key idea is that when you change column diameter, you keep the superficial linear velocity the same. For example if I have an analyte which elutes on a 10 cm x 4.6 mm i.d column at 7 minutes at 1 mL/min. Now we change the diameter to 3 mm, we have to use a flow rate of 0.425 mL/min to keep the retention time the same. Now we wish reduce the diameter further, say 2.1 mm i.d., now you should use 0.21 mL/min so that your analyte elutes at 7 minutes.

Search the keyword: superficial linear velocity, HPLC