A mathematical model of the hydrophobic adsorption chromatographic separation of wood model constituents has been developed. Veratryl alcohol was selected to illustrate a lignin molecule and salicin was selected to illustrate a lignin-carbohydrate complex. A variety of available experimental methods in combination with parameter fitting was used to estimate the parameters of packed bed porosity, axial dispersion, film mass transfer, diffusivities and adsorption equilibria with a phenylic silica stationary phase. The model was verified to simulate the separation to within an accuracy of 95%. The model was,,however, unable to predict the phenomenon of elution curve fronting, caused by the channeling of the packed bed. (C) 2013 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.