Atlantis Premier BEH Z-HILIC Columns - Care and Use Manual

Importance of the Topic

The development and maintenance of robust HILIC separations are critical for accurate analysis of polar and hydrophilic compounds in pharmaceutical, biochemical and industrial applications. Atlantis Premier BEH Z-HILIC columns combine a zwitterionic sulfobetaine stationary phase with hybrid organic/inorganic particles, delivering enhanced retention, reproducibility and mass spectrometric compatibility.

Objectives and Overview

This care and use manual aims to guide users through the proper handling, installation, equilibration, operation and maintenance of Atlantis Premier BEH Z-HILIC columns. It details recommended practices for sample preparation, mobile-phase selection, column cleaning, column storage, and the use of VanGuard FIT cartridges and eCord Intelligent Chip technology.

Methodology and Instrumentation

These columns are packed with BEH particles bonded with a sulfobetaine zwitterionic phase under cGMP and ISO 9001 conditions. Each batch undergoes chromatographic testing for efficiency, tailing factor and retention characteristics. Key instrumentation and technologies include:

• ACQUITY UPLC and ACQUITY Arc systems for high-pressure operation
• VanGuard Fully Integrated Technology (FIT) cartridges to protect the analytical column and extend lifetime
• eCord Intelligent Chip for on-column storage of Performance Test Chromatograms, Certificates of Analysis and usage history

Main Guidelines and Discussion

Installation and Equilibration
Connect the column to the system after purging buffers; equilibrate with at least 50 column volumes of starting mobile phase or 8–10 volumes between gradient injections to achieve stable backpressure and baseline.

Sample Preparation and Injection
Clean samples via SPE if needed; use dilution solvents matching or weaker than the mobile phase; filter through a 0.2 µm membrane or centrifuge; avoid acetone unless system compatibility kit is installed.

Mobile Phase, pH and Buffers
Operate between pH 2–10; maintain at least 40% organic content and 10 mM volatile buffer (e.g., ammonium acetate or formate); avoid non-volatile salts and phosphate buffers to prevent precipitation.

Pressure and Temperature
2.1 mm I.D. columns tolerate up to 18 000 psi; 4.6 mm I.D. up to 10 000 psi. Recommended temperature range: 4–60 °C; lower pH extremes prefer lower temperature.

Cleaning, Regeneration and Storage
Flush with suitable polar or non-polar solvents to remove contaminants; replace or regenerate VanGuard FIT cartridge as needed; for storage, flush with water followed by acetonitrile, seal tightly to prevent drying.

eCord Intelligent Chip Technology
Provides permanent on-column tracking of performance test data and in-use history, accessible via ACQUITY Console software.

Troubleshooting Tips
Use gradients from high to moderate organic content for initial scouting; maintain strong and weak needle wash solvents matching initial mobile phase; consider alternative polar solvents to adjust retention.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Atlantis Premier BEH Z-HILIC columns offer:

• Enhanced retention of polar analytes and alternative selectivity vs. conventional HILIC chemistries
• High reproducibility by reducing surface interactions through MaxPeak High Performance Surfaces
• Extended column life enabled by VanGuard FIT cartridges and straightforward regeneration protocols
• Seamless documentation and traceability via eCord technology

These advantages support bioanalytical assays, metabolite profiling, pharmaceutical impurity analysis and other workflows requiring robust HILIC performance.

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Advances are expected in automated column monitoring, real-time performance diagnostics and integration with LIMS. Next-generation surface chemistries may further reduce nonspecific adsorption. Expansion into greener solvent systems and tighter coupling with high-resolution mass spectrometry will broaden HILIC applications in omics research, environmental analysis and quality control.

Conclusion

Proper care and use of Atlantis Premier BEH Z-HILIC columns ensure reliable HILIC separations for challenging polar compounds. Adherence to recommended practices for installation, equilibration, mobile-phase selection, cleaning and storage maximizes column performance and lifetime while streamlining workflow documentation.