Agilent ZORBAX Rapid Resolution High Definition Eclipse XDB-C18 Column - Data Sheet

Importance of the Topic

High-performance UHPLC separations demand columns that combine high efficiency, mechanical stability at extreme pressures, and chemical robustness over a wide pH range. The Agilent ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse XDB-C18 column meets these needs by offering sub-2-µm particle technology, extra-dense bonding chemistry, and double endcapping to minimize secondary interactions. These features enable reliable analysis of acidic, basic, and highly polar compounds in pharmaceutical, environmental, and industrial QC laboratories.

Objectives and Study Overview

This data sheet describes the design, performance characteristics, and recommended usage of the Agilent ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse XDB-C18 UHPLC column. Key objectives include:

• Characterizing column chemistry and packing technology
• Validating mechanical and chemical stability under high pressure and varied pH
• Presenting QC chromatographic performance metrics
• Providing guidelines for mobile phase selection, column care, and storage

Methodology and Instrumentation

The column is packed with 1.8 µm XDB-C18 stationary phase bonded to Type B ZORBAX Rx-SIL silica (180 m2/g, 80 Å). A proprietary high-pressure slurry loading ensures uniform bed density. Double endcapping deactivates residual silanols, reducing peak tailing for basic analytes. Quality control employs a test chromatogram on a modified, low-volume UHPLC system to measure plate count and peak shape.

Used Instrumentation

• Agilent 1290 Infinity UHPLC system (up to 1200 bar)
• Agilent ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse XDB-C18, 2.1 × 50 mm, 1.8 µm column
• QC test system with minimized extra-column volume

Main Results and Discussion

QC chromatograms demonstrate high efficiency and sharp peak shapes for a standard test mix at 55% acetonitrile/45% water, 0.55 mL/min. The column supports pressures up to 1300 bar and temperatures to 60 °C, with optimal lifetime at 40 °C and pH 3–8. Performance remains stable in intermediate-pH mobile phases, provided buffer concentrations are kept at 10–50 mM and temperatures below 40 °C when pH exceeds 6.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Superior peak symmetry for basic and polar compounds without the need for strong modifiers
• Robust performance in high-pressure UHPLC workflows, increasing throughput
• Compatibility with common solvent systems (acetonitrile/water, methanol/water)
• Reduced silica dissolution in pH 3–8, extending column lifetime in challenging separations

Future Trends and Opportunities

Continued advances in UHPLC column technologies will focus on further reducing particle size while maintaining mechanical stability and low backpressure. Novel bonding chemistries may enable separations under even wider pH ranges and harsher solvent conditions. Integration with mass spectrometry and real-time monitoring will expand applications in metabolomics, proteomics, and trace-level environmental analysis.

Conclusion

The Agilent ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse XDB-C18 column delivers exceptional efficiency, chemical inertness, and pressure stability for UHPLC separations of acidic, basic, and polar analytes. Its engineered stationary phase and rigorous QC ensure reliable performance in demanding analytical workflows.

References

1. Claessens H.A., van Straten M.A., Kirkland J.J. Journal of Chromatography A, 728 (1996) 259.