More Chemistries, More Choices For Solving Your Toughest Separation Challenges

Significance of the Topic

Efficient separation of complex mixtures is a cornerstone in analytical chemistry. The InfinityLab Poroshell 120 column family offers a versatile platform featuring superficially porous particles and a wide range of chemistries, enabling high-resolution, high-throughput analyses across pharmaceutical, environmental, food and industrial applications.

Objectives and Study Overview

This summary outlines the expansion of the Poroshell 120 portfolio to 19 distinct stationary phases and three particle sizes. It highlights design goals such as improved peak shape, robustness at extreme pH and temperature, and alternative selectivity for challenging analytes.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The Poroshell 120 family is based on core-shell particle technology with particle diameters of 1.9, 2.7 and 4 micrometres and pore sizes of 120 angstroms (100 angstroms for high-pH and HILIC phases). Key parameters:

• Temperature limit up to 90 degrees C
• pH stability range from 1 to 12 depending on chemistry
• Carbon load between 3.5 and 10 percent
• Surface area from 95 to 130 square metres per gram
• Endcapping varies by phase to enhance peak shape

Used Instrumentation

The columns are compatible with a range of Agilent LC systems including:

• 1290 Infinity II LC series for ultra-high-pressure applications
• 1260 Infinity II and Infinity II Prime systems for versatile UHPLC performance
• 1220 Infinity II LC for high-pH capable HPLC separations

Main Results and Discussion

Implementation of the 19 Poroshell 120 chemistries demonstrates:

• General purpose reversed phase phases (EC-C18, EC-C8) deliver excellent efficiency for acids, bases and neutrals
• StableBond phases (SB-C18, SB-C8) maintain performance under low-pH conditions
• High-pH phases (HPH-C18, HPH-C8) extend stability to pH 11 for basic compounds
• Polar embedded and cyano phases (Bonus-RP, CS-C18, EC-CN) provide unique selectivity for polar analytes
• Aromatic phases (PFP, Phenyl-Hexyl) enhance separation of halogenated and aromatic molecules
• Hydrophilic interaction phases (HILIC, HILIC-Z, HILIC-OH5) retain highly polar and charged compounds
• Chiral stationary phases support enantiomeric separations of amino acids, drugs and biomolecules

Benefits and Practical Applications

Key advantages of the Poroshell 120 portfolio include:

• High efficiency and faster run times compared to fully porous particles
• Reduced solvent consumption when using smaller internal diameters
• Robust performance at elevated temperatures and extreme pH
• Seamless method transfer from legacy ZORBAX chemistries
• Alternative selectivity options for complex sample matrices

Future Trends and Applications

The evolution of superficially porous particle technologies points towards:

• Integration with mass spectrometry and microflow platforms
• Development of greener and more sustainable mobile phases
• Application of artificial intelligence for automated method selection
• Design of novel bonded phases for emerging contaminants

Conclusion

The expanded InfinityLab Poroshell 120 family addresses diverse analytical challenges by offering a comprehensive set of particle sizes and chemistries. Its combination of efficiency, stability and selectivity makes it a valuable tool for modern laboratories seeking robust HPLC and UHPLC separations.

Reference

Agilent Technologies Inc Poroshell 120 family application note Published October 2020