Retention loss of reversed-phase chromatographic columns using 100% aqueous mobile phases from fundamental insights to best practice.

•The dewetting kinetics of water from RPLC columns is investigated experimentally.•The relevance of chemical, physical, and structural parameters is demonstrated.•Facts are all explained from Laplace pressure, contact angle, and mesopore structure.•Slowest kinetics is for long alkyl chains, low surface coverage, and doped surface.