Waters Atlantis Premier BEH C18 AX Columns - Care and Use Manual

Importance of the Topic

The Atlantis Premier BEH C18 AX Column manual provides critical guidance for the setup, operation, and maintenance of a mixed-mode chromatography column incorporating both reversed-phase and anion-exchange functionalities. Proper care ensures high reproducibility, extended column life, and reliable separations of charged and neutral analytes in pharmaceutical, environmental, and biochemical applications.

Objectives and Overview of the Document

This manual outlines step-by-step procedures for installing, equilibrating, and using the Atlantis Premier BEH C18 AX Columns. It introduces the VanGuard FIT Cartridge protection system and the eCord Intelligent Chip for performance tracking. Emphasis is placed on best practices for sample preparation, solvent selection, operating conditions, troubleshooting, and storage.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The column packing material is produced under cGMP and ISO 9001 standards, with each batch tested for efficiency, tailing, and retention factors. Key procedures include:

• Column installation on ACQUITY UPLC or Arc systems with specified flow-rate ramps
• Equilibration with at least ten column volumes of target mobile phase to achieve baseline stability
• Operation within a pH range of 2–10 using recommended volatile or nonvolatile buffers
• Pressure limits up to 18 000 psi for 2.1 mm I.D. formats and 10 000 psi for larger I.D. formats
• Temperature control between 4 °C and 60 °C to optimize selectivity and lifetime

Used Instrumentation

• Atlantis Premier BEH C18 AX Columns (1.7–5 μm particles; 2.1–4.6 mm I.D.; 30–250 mm length)
• ACQUITY UPLC and ACQUITY Arc Systems
• VanGuard Fully Integrated Technology FIT Cartridges
• eCord Intelligent Chip for column history and performance data

Key Results and Discussion

While this document is a care and use manual rather than an experimental study, it summarizes the impact of mobile phase variables on retention: increasing buffer concentration reduces retention of negatively charged analytes via ion displacement and increases retention of positively charged analytes by mitigating repulsive forces. Proper cleaning routines using organic solvents or detergents restore peak shape and maintain column efficiency.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Combines hydrophobic and anion-exchange interactions for enhanced selectivity
• Wide operating pH and temperature ranges accommodate diverse chemistries
• High pressure tolerance supports fast UPLC workflows
• VanGuard FIT Cartridge extends analytical column lifetime by trapping particulates
• eCord technology enables traceable performance history and simplified documentation

Future Trends and Applications

Future developments may include expanded eCord integration with laboratory information systems, automated column health alerts, and novel mixed-mode phases tailored for challenging separations in proteomics, metabolomics, and biopharmaceutical QA/QC. Continuous improvements in surface chemistries and ruggedness will further broaden application scope.

Conclusion

This manual equips analytical chemists with the protocols and best practices needed to maximize performance and longevity of Atlantis Premier BEH C18 AX Columns. Adherence to the guidance on installation, equilibration, operation, cleaning, and tracking ensures robust, reproducible results and streamlined laboratory workflows.