Accucore UHPLC and HPLC Columns Phase Overview

Significance of the Topic

High-performance liquid chromatography remains a cornerstone technique in analytical chemistry for separating complex mixtures across pharmaceuticals, biochemistry and environmental testing. Advancements in column technology that enhance resolution, reduce analysis time and extend operating robustness directly improve laboratory throughput, data quality and cost-effectiveness. The Accucore family of UHPLC and HPLC columns addresses these needs by combining solid core particle design with a wide range of bonded phases.

Objectives and Study Overview

This summary reviews the design principles, phase varieties and performance characteristics of Accucore UHPLC and HPLC columns. It highlights:

• The range of stationary phases available for diverse analyte chemistries.
• Comparative performance of solid core particles versus fully porous alternatives.
• Operational parameters including pH and temperature stability, flow rate and backpressure limits.
• Applications spanning small molecules to biomolecules.

Instrumentation

The study focuses on:

• Accucore Vanquish UHPLC columns featuring 1.5 µm solid core particles.
• Accucore HPLC columns with 2.6 µm core–shell particles.
• Accucore XL HPLC columns built on 4 µm solid core particles.
• Specialized nanoViper columns for nano-LC applications.

Main Results and Discussion

Particle Design and Surface Chemistry

• Core–shell particles consist of a solid silica core surrounded by a porous layer, delivering high efficiency and narrow size distribution.
• Pore diameters of 80 Å or 150 Å accommodate analytes from small drugs to peptides and proteins.

Phase Selectivity

• Hydrophobic phases: C18+, C18, C8 and C30 for non-polar analytes and peptide separations.
• Polar-embedded and aromatic chemistries: aQ, Polar Premium, Biphenyl, Phenyl-Hexyl and PFP for complementary selectivity.
• HILIC modes: HILIC, Urea-HILIC and Amide-HILIC tailored for carbohydrates, glycans and polar small molecules.

Operational Stability

• Wide pH stability (pH 1–11) on select phases supports aggressive cleaning and extended method scope.
• Temperature tolerance up to 70 °C enhances peak shape for late-eluting compounds.
• High backpressure ratings (up to 1500 bar on UHPLC) enable high flow rates and rapid separations.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Enhanced speed and resolution reduce analysis time per sample, increasing throughput in QA/QC and research labs.
• Robust pH and temperature limits extend column lifetime across diverse mobile phases.
• Broad phase portfolio enables method development flexibility for small molecules, peptides and proteins.
• Guard cartridges and direct-connection holders protect costly analytical columns and simplify maintenance.

Future Trends and Applications

Emerging demands in high-throughput and nano-scale separations will drive further miniaturization of core–shell technology and development of novel chemistries for even more selective analyte interactions. Integration with mass spectrometry workflows and automation platforms is expected to deepen, while sustainable stationary phases may reduce environmental impact.

Conclusion

The Accucore UHPLC and HPLC column portfolio exemplifies solid core chromatography, delivering superior efficiency, versatile selectivity and robust operational ranges. These features support a wide array of analytical challenges from small molecule drug discovery to complex biomolecule characterization, making them valuable assets in modern analytical laboratories.