Reach New Heights in Performance - Agilent Altura HPLC columns with Ultra Inert technology

Importance of the Topic

Minimizing metal-induced adsorption and nonspecific interactions is essential for accurate and reproducible liquid chromatography analyses. Altura HPLC columns with Ultra Inert technology address these challenges by blocking active metal sites and delivering superior sensitivity and peak shape for the most demanding applications.

Study Objectives and Overview

This study evaluates the performance of Agilent Altura Ultra Inert columns against traditional stainless steel hardware and competing inert columns. The aim is to demonstrate improvements in analyte recovery, peak symmetry, equilibration speed, chemical stability, and column longevity across a variety of biomolecular and small-molecule separations.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Ultra Inert coating applied to column hardware to eliminate active metal sites.
• Comparative chromatographic tests using adenine nucleotides, RNA oligonucleotides, phosphopeptides, metabolites, and therapeutic peptides.
• Performance benchmarks included sensitivity, signal-to-noise, equilibration time, and retention stability under diverse mobile phase conditions.
• Instrumentation Used:
  
  • Agilent 1290 Infinity II bio LC system
  • Agilent 1260 Infinity III bio-inert LC system
  • Altura column chemistries: Poroshell HPH-C18, Oligo HPH-C18, Poroshell HILIC-Z, Eclipse Plus C18
  • UV detection and LC/MS for quantitative analysis

Main Results and Discussion

• Peak Shape and Sensitivity: Altura columns produced sharper, more symmetrical peaks and up to 6.5× higher sensitivity compared with stainless steel hardware.
• Rapid Equilibration: Columns stabilized up to 8× faster, reducing startup time and increasing throughput in high-volume workflows.
• Chemical Robustness: Consistent inert performance after exposure to acidic, basic, high-salt, and elevated temperature conditions over six weeks.
• Longevity: Stable retention times observed over 700 injections and 14 days of continuous use, lowering replacement frequency.
• Comparative Performance: Outperformed competitor inert columns with up to 3× higher signal-to-noise and better analyte recovery in phosphopeptide separations.

Benefits and Practical Applications of the Method

• Enhanced selectivity and reproducibility for metal-sensitive analytes across diverse matrices.
• Reduced carryover and faster data turnaround for high-throughput laboratories.
• Lower total cost of ownership due to robust coating and extended column life.
• Versatile use in reversed-phase, HILIC, and bio-LC applications, meeting evolving regulatory demands for lower detection limits.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Integration of Ultra Inert technology with advanced bio-LC systems is expected to drive further improvements in biomolecular separations. Ongoing developments may include novel surface chemistries for even greater inertness, automated conditioning protocols, and deeper coupling with high-resolution mass spectrometry to meet next-generation analysis requirements.

Conclusion

Agilent Altura HPLC columns with Ultra Inert technology deliver unmatched inertness, sensitivity, and durability. By preventing metal interactions, these columns enhance peak shape, speed equilibration, and extend column lifetime, offering a reliable solution for challenging analytical workflows.