Waters Torus Columns - CARE AND USE MANUAL

Significance of the Topic

The Torus family of Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) columns provides a flexible platform for rapid achiral separations ranging from analytical to preparative scales. By leveraging Waters’ proprietary bonding technologies on ethylene-bridged hybrid particles, these columns deliver enhanced selectivity, robustness, and peak shape stability under supercritical CO₂ conditions.

Objectives and Study Overview

This manual aims to guide users through the safe installation, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Torus 1.7 µm and 5 µm columns on Waters ACQUITY UPC² and SFC purification systems. Key goals include:

• Ensuring reproducible column performance via standardized installation and equilibration procedures
• Describing sample preparation and mobile-phase considerations to preserve column lifetime
• Introducing the eCord Intelligent Chip for real-time tracking of column history and usage

Used Instrumentation

• Waters ACQUITY UPC² System with active column heating and backpressure control
• Waters SFC Purification Systems
• VanGuard guard columns matching Torus chemistries
• eCord™ Intelligent Chip for on-column performance tracking

Methodology and Operational Guidelines

Installation & Equilibration:
Follow safety protocols for handling pressurized CO₂ and modifiers. Connect columns using Waters-specified low-volume tubing and fittings. Equilibrate with at least ten column volumes of mobile phase at operating temperature to prevent thermal mismatches.

Sample Preparation & Mobile Phase:
Filter samples (0.2 µm) and dissolve in a weak solvent to avoid peak distortion. Use high-purity CO₂ (>99.97%) with HPLC-grade organic modifiers. Common additives (e.g., TFA, formic acid, ammonium salts, amines) at ~20 mM improve peak shape and selectivity.

Operating Conditions:
Typical temperature range up to 60 °C, pressures up to 6 000 psi, and flow rates scaled to column dimensions (e.g., up to 3.2 mL/min for 2.1×50 mm at 100% CO₂). Minimize extra-column band spreading by using specified tubing diameters.

Maintenance & Troubleshooting:
Monitor backpressure and chromatographic efficiency. Remove contaminants via flushing sequences tailored to sample polarity. Address leaks by inspecting fittings. Use eCord data to track performance drift and plan cleaning or replacement.

Main Results and Discussion

While no experimental study is presented, key performance attributes of Torus columns include consistent plate counts, tight tailing factors, and capacity factors validated on each column and batch. The two-stage bonding yields uniform retention behavior and extended column life even under demanding SFC conditions.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid method development for pharmaceutical and industrial analytes
• Seamless transfer from analytical screening to preparative purification
• Automated performance logging via eCord for quality assurance
• Enhanced lifetime and robustness courtesy of hybrid particle technology

Future Trends and Opportunities for Application

Integration of intelligent chip technologies with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), expansion of green chromatography practices using CO₂, and further miniaturization of SFC columns for high-throughput screening represent emerging directions. Continued innovations in stationary phase chemistries may enable more selective separations of polar and nonpolar analytes under supercritical conditions.

Conclusion

This manual provides a comprehensive framework for maximizing the performance and longevity of Waters Torus SFC columns. By following recommended installation, operation, cleaning, and tracking protocols, laboratories can achieve robust, high-efficiency separations with minimal downtime.

Reference