Analysis of Triazines Using a Thermo Scientific Accucore XL C8 4 μm HPLC Column

Importance of the Topic

Triazine herbicides are widely used agricultural chemicals that require sensitive and accurate analysis in environmental monitoring, food safety, and quality control laboratories. Enhanced chromatographic performance directly impacts detection limits, resolution of structurally similar analogs, and overall robustness of routine assays.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study compares two reversed-phase HPLC columns—an Accucore XL C8 solid core column (4 µm) versus a traditional fully porous C8 column (5 µm)—for the separation of seven triazine compounds under identical gradient conditions. The aim is to quantify improvements in separation efficiency, sensitivity, reproducibility, and operational backpressure.

Methodology and Instrumentation

A mixed standard of simazine, simetryn, atrazine, prometon, ametryn, propazine, and prometryn (50 µg/mL each) was prepared in water. Chromatographic separation employed a water/acetonitrile gradient (20–60% B over 10 min, return to initial conditions by 10.1 min, and re-equilibration to 15 min) at 1.5 mL/min, 25 °C column temperature, and 220 nm UV detection. Data acquisition and processing were performed using Chromeleon 7.0 CDS.

Used Instrumentation

• Thermo Scientific Dionex UltiMate 3000 RSLC system
• Accucore XL C8 4 µm, 150 × 4.6 mm column
• Fully porous C8 5 µm, 150 × 4.6 mm column
• UV detector at 220 nm
• Chromeleon 7.0 Chromatography Data System

Main Results and Discussion

• Resolution of the critical peak pair (ametryn/propazine) increased by 54% (from 1.92 to 2.95) with the Accucore XL column.
• Average peak widths decreased by 29%, yielding sharper peaks and better separation.
• Signal-to-noise ratios improved by an average of 140%, enhancing detection sensitivity.
• Backpressure rose moderately from 165 bar to 215 bar, remaining within conventional HPLC limits.
• Retention time reproducibility was excellent for all analytes (RSD ≤ 0.1%).

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Accucore XL C8 column delivers higher throughput and lower detection limits without modifying existing HPLC systems. Laboratories analyzing pesticide residues, environmental contaminants, or similar small molecules benefit from increased resolution and sensitivity under standard operating conditions.

Future Trends and Possibilities

• Extension of core enhanced solid-core technology to other analyte classes and complex matrices.
• Integration with mass spectrometric detection to exploit improved peak capacity in trace analysis.
• Development of faster gradients and miniaturized formats (UHPLC) leveraging solid core advantages.
• Automation and high-throughput screening workflows in regulatory and research laboratories.

Conclusion

The Accucore XL C8 4 µm solid core HPLC column significantly outperforms a conventional 5 µm fully porous column in the separation of seven triazine herbicides under identical conditions, offering sharper peaks, higher sensitivity, improved resolution, and robust reproducibility with minimal increase in backpressure.

References

• MacRitchie E. Analysis of Triazines Using a Thermo Scientific Accucore XL C8 HPLC Column. Thermo Fisher Scientific Application Note 20541, 2012.