UHPLC columns - Improve productivity withmodern UHPLC column technology

Significance of the Topic

Modern UHPLC relies on advanced column technologies to achieve high efficiency, throughput and resolution at reduced operational pressures. Selecting appropriate column chemistries and formats directly impacts analytical productivity, robustness and method transfer across HPLC and UHPLC platforms.

Study Objectives and Overview

This application note reviews Waters UHPLC column offerings and highlights their design principles, performance advantages and compatibility with various chromatographic systems. It covers three main column families: CORTECS solid-core particles, XBridge BEH and XBridge BEH XP fully porous hybrids and XSelect charged surface and high strength silica phases.

Methodology and Instrumentation

A comprehensive evaluation of column performance was conducted using Waters Alliance HPLC, ACQUITY Arc UHPLC and ACQUITY UPLC systems. Key instrumentation features include low dispersion flow paths for small particles, high pressure capabilities up to 18,000 psi and modular column managers for scalable configurations.

• CORTECS ECS 2.7 µm columns on Alliance HPLC and ACQUITY Arc
• XBridge BEH 2.5 µm XP columns on ACQUITY Arc and UPLC
• XSelect CSH and HSS XP phases on ACQUITY UPLC H-Class and I-Class
• VanGuard guard cartridges and TruView certified vials for sample protection

Main Results and Discussion

The study demonstrates that CORTECS 2.7 µm columns reduce backpressure by 25 percent versus conventional 5 µm phases, enabling up to five-fold throughput gains through higher flow rates and longer column use. Solid-core particles also enhance resolution for isobaric and co-eluting analytes.
XBridge BEH XP columns provide broad pH stability from 1 to 12, extending retention control across acidic, basic and neutral compounds with minimal stationary phase degradation. Method scaling from 1.7 to 10 µm particles yields predictable retention and peak shape across different instrument bandspreads.
XSelect XP phases combine charged surface hybrid and high strength silica substrates with tailored ligands to maximize selectivity for basic, polar and aromatic analytes. Selectivity maps highlight separation diversity among CSH C18, phenyl-hexyl, fluoro-phenyl, HSS T3, C18 SB, PFP and CN phases.
System dispersion analysis underscores the need for matched column dimensions and instrument dispersion profiles. Recommended column I.D. and length ensure optimal peak capacity on Shimadzu, Agilent and Waters systems.
VanGuard cartridges offer a cost-effective guard solution with negligible impact on resolution and retention, protecting analytical columns from particulate and chemical contaminants. TruView vials minimize sample adsorption and carryover, ensuring reproducible UHPLC operation.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Enhanced resolution and sensitivity for complex mixtures such as steroids and pharmaceutical compounds
• Reduced cycle times and increased throughput for QA/QC and routine analysis
• Seamless transfer of methods across HPLC and UHPLC platforms without revalidation
• Extended column lifetime and maintenance intervals using guard cartridges
• Robust pH versatility enabling challenging separations at extreme mobile phase conditions

Future Trends and Opportunities

Continued innovation in particle engineering promises further reductions in dispersion and column hardware dead volume. Emerging hybrid and core-shell chemistries will expand selectivity choices for polar and chiral analytes. Integration of automated method development and AI-driven optimization will accelerate assay development. Green chemistry initiatives will drive low solvent consumption and sustainable UHPLC workflows.

Conclusion

Waters UHPLC column technologies deliver distinct performance advantages through tailored particle designs and bonded phases. Solid-core CORTECS, hybrid BEH and XP, and specialized XSelect phases provide a comprehensive solution for modern chromatographic challenges. Matching column format to instrument dispersion and leveraging guard cartridges and certified vials ensure reliable, high throughput separations across a wide range of applications.