Waters Cortecs 2.7 μm columns

Importance of the Topic

Objectives and Study Overview

• Enhancing chromatographic efficiency by minimizing van Deemter A, B, and C contributions.
• Demonstrating reproducible packing and manufacturing processes for consistent performance.
• Validating improved peak shape, resolution, and sensitivity for a variety of analyte classes.
• Assessing scalability from HPLC to UHPLC/UPLC and ease of method transfer.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Van Deemter analysis comparing solid-core vs. fully-porous particles.
• Batch-to-batch reproducibility tests of bonded phases using QC reference mixes (e.g., uracil, promethazine, naphthalene).
• Acid stability study: 21 h exposure to 0.5% TFA at 60 °C.
• Separations of acids, bases, neutrals, low-level impurities, polar metabolites, cannabinoids, and local anesthetics under reversed-phase and HILIC conditions.

Used Instrumentation

• Alliance® HPLC and ACQUITY® UPLC H-Class and I-Class Systems.
• Photodiode array (PDA) detectors and UV detectors at 220–280 nm.
• Xevo® TQD and TQ-S mass spectrometers (ESI+ mode).
• VanGuard® pre-columns and cartridges for column protection.

Main Results and Discussion

• Solid-core CORTECS columns achieved up to 40% higher efficiency than competitor solid-core and fully-porous sub-2 µm media at comparable flow rates.
• Lower bed porosity and improved heat transfer reduced van Deemter B and C terms, while uniform packing lowered A term.
• C18+ (CSH™ technology) provided exceptional peak shape and higher S/N for basic analytes without ion-pair reagents.
• C18 columns delivered balanced retention and superior resolution for mixtures of acids, bases, and neutrals, increasing peak capacity by over 60% versus fully-porous media.
• HILIC phases enabled robust retention of highly polar metabolites (e.g., morphine glucuronides, neurotransmitters) with improved MS sensitivity.
• CORTECS columns operated at up to 25% lower backpressure, allowing use of longer columns or higher flow rates to further enhance resolution or throughput.
• Method transfer from 5 µm to 2.7 µm and 1.6 µm formats delivered up to 9× faster analyses with solvent savings and seamless compatibility across LC platforms.
• VanGuard protection cartridges showed minimal impact on efficiency (<5% change in peak capacity) while prolonging column lifetimes.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Quality control and pharmaceutical impurity profiling with sharper, symmetrical peaks.
• Environmental and forensic analysis of trace polar compounds and metabolites.
• High-throughput screening and method development with rapid gradient times.
• Seamless method transfer across multi-site laboratories and instruments.
• Reduced solvent consumption and operating costs due to lower backpressure and shorter run times.

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Integrate predictive method development using AI-driven column selection tools.
• Expand the pH and temperature stability windows with advanced hybrid materials.
• Develop new stationary phases for challenging separations, such as biopharmaceuticals and large biomolecules.
• Leverage miniaturized LC systems and micro-flow MS to further reduce sample and solvent use.

Conclusion

References

• Guiochon, G. & Gritti, F. “Truth Behind Increased Efficiency with Solid-Core Particles,” J. Chromatogr. A, 1218 (2011) 1915–1938.