Thermo Scientific Hypersil GOLD HPLC Columns - Phase Overview

Importance of the Topic

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) remains a cornerstone technique for the separation and analysis of complex mixtures in pharmaceutical, food, environmental, and biochemical applications. Modern challenges demand columns that deliver sharp peak shape, high reproducibility, and flexibility across a wide range of analyte types and operating conditions. The Thermo Scientific Hypersil GOLD family addresses these needs through advanced silica manufacturing and surface chemistry control.

Objectives and Study Overview

This document presents a comprehensive overview of the Hypersil GOLD column series. It aims to describe the design rationale, phase chemistry options, physical and chemical properties, operational limits, and recommended procedures for column maintenance and application. By summarizing the product specifications, users can select the optimal column for reversed-phase, normal-phase, ion-exchange, or HILIC separations.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Columns in the Hypersil GOLD family are produced using highly pure silica, bonded and packed under ISO 9001 2008 protocols. The proprietary bonding process yields a uniform surface with minimal residual silanol groups, reducing unwanted secondary interactions.

• Phase chemistries available include C18, C8, C4, aQ (polar endcapped C18), PFP, phenyl, CN, amino, AX, SAX, bare silica, and HILIC.
• Particle sizes of 1.9, 3, 5, and 12 μm provide compatibility with UHPLC and conventional HPLC systems.
• Pore diameter is 175 Å with a surface area of 220 m2/g for all particle sizes, optimizing mass transfer and resolution.
• Operational pH range spans pH 2–11 for base C18 phases; other chemistries range pH 2–8 or 2–9 as specified.
• Maximum recommended temperature is 60 °C.
• Flow rates and injection volumes are provided for Javelin HTS, UHPLC, HPLC, and preparative formats, with backpressures rated up to 1250 bar for UHPLC.

Main Results and Discussion

The Hypersil GOLD series demonstrates outstanding peak shape across diverse analytes. Key observations include:

• C8 and C4 phases offer reduced retention compared to C18 while maintaining similar selectivity.
• aQ columns exhibit enhanced stability and retention in 100% aqueous mobile phases, beneficial for polar compounds.
• PFP and phenyl chemistries provide unique pi-pi interactions for aromatic targets.
• CN and bare silica phases support both reversed and normal phase modes with lower hydrophobicity.
• Amino, AX, and SAX phases enable multiple chromatographic modes including ion-exchange and HILIC, useful for carbohydrates, peptides, and polar organics.
• HILIC phases enhance retention of highly polar analytes that are challenging on reversed-phase columns.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The versatility of the Hypersil GOLD portfolio allows seamless method transfer between analytical and preparative scales. Applications span small molecule quantitation, biomolecule separation, impurity profiling, and high-throughput screening. Robust manufacturing ensures consistent column-to-column performance, reducing method development time and improving lab productivity.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Ongoing trends in analytical chemistry include the push for faster separations, higher sensitivity, and greener solvent consumption. Future developments may involve:

• Further miniaturization of particle sizes for sub-2 μm UHPLC applications.
• Enhanced phase chemistries tailored for biologics and large biomolecules.
• Integration with automated sample preparation and online coupling to mass spectrometry.
• Novel surface coatings to extend pH and temperature limits.

Conclusion

The Thermo Scientific Hypersil GOLD column family offers a comprehensive solution for modern chromatographic challenges. With high-purity silica, controlled surface chemistry, and a broad range of phase types and formats, these columns enable reproducible, high-efficiency separations across multiple modes. Proper selection and maintenance ensure reliable performance for both routine analyses and specialized applications.

Instrumentation Used

Key equipment compatible with Hypersil GOLD columns includes high-pressure UHPLC systems, conventional HPLC instruments, Javelin HTS systems, and preparative-scale HPLC setups, alongside Uniguard guard cartridge holders for column protection.