Introduction: HPLC Column Technology – State of the Art
It has often been stated (or maybe overstated) that the column is the heart of the chromatograph. Without the proper choice of column and appropriate operating conditions, method development and optimization of the high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation can be frustrating and unrewarding experiences. Since the beginning of modern liquid chromatography, column technology has been a driving force in moving separations forward. Today, the driving forces for new column configurations and phases are the increased need for high throughput applications, for high sensitivity assays and to characterize complex samples such as peptide digests and natural products.
It has often been stated (or maybe overstated) that the column is the heart of the chromatograph. Without the proper choice of column and appropriate operating conditions, method development and optimization of the high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation can be frustrating and unrewarding experiences. Since the beginning of modern liquid chromatography, column technology has been a driving force in moving separations forward. Today, the driving forces for new column configurations and phases are the increased need for high throughput applications, for high sensitivity assays and to characterize complex samples such as peptide digests and natural products.
Ronald E. Majors
In the last several years, advances are still being made in column technology with smaller porous particles (1- to 2-μm in diameter), ultrahigh pressure HPLC, high temperature (up to 200 °C) columns, nano-columns with diameters under 100-μm and rapid separation columns enabling high-resolution separations in seconds. LC-on-a-Chip experimentation is now driving columns to smaller and smaller dimensions but making LC-MS interfacing even easier. Polymeric- and silica-based monoliths have seen major improvements with better reproducibility, a variety of stationary phases, and commercial availability. New particle designs such as superficially porous particles for high-speed applications have come on the scene. Improvements in applications-specific columns such as those for chiral separations, sensitive biological samples, and very polar compounds are being shown every year. The area of multidimensional LC and comprehensive LC×LC has become a reality in the tackling of complex samples.
In time for the HPLC 2008 Symposium held in Baltimore this year, I have assembled a special edition of LCGC North America to highlight the state-of-the-art in HPLC column technology. Experts and pioneers in the field of HPLC column technology from industry and academia were asked to contribute their technical knowledge. In this issue, we will have an overview of column advances in the last two years (Majors), followed by a look at high-throughput and high pressure LC (Rozing), polymeric monolithic columns (Svec and Krenkova) and silica-based monolithic columns (Cabrera), high temperature HPLC (Yang), chiral chromatography columns (Beesley), enhanced stability stationary phases (Silva and Collins), and rounded out with a treatise on hydrophilic interaction chromatography (McCalley). The contributors were asked to provide an update on the phase and column technology in their respective areas with a focus on advances made in recent years. With a defined word limit, focus was directed primarily to the most recent advances. I hope you find Recent Developments in LC Column Technology of both interest and value. Hopefully this information can be used to help solve your everyday separation problems or, at the least, give you some ideas of new columns or techniques to try out. Good reading.
Ronald E. Majors
Recent Developments in LC
Column TechnologyEditor
Analyzing Bone Proteins in Forensic Laboratories Using LC−MS/MS
November 4th 2024A recent study compared different workflows for extracting, purifying, and analyzing bone proteins using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), including an in-StageTip protocol previously optimized for forensic applications, and two protocols using novel suspension-trap technology (S-Trap) and different lysis solutions. LCGC International discussed this work with Noemi Procopio of the School of Law and Policing and the Research Centre for Field Archaeology and Forensic Taphonomy at the University of Central Lancashire (UK), corresponding author of the paper that resulted from this study.
AI and GenAI Applications to Help Optimize Purification and Yield of Antibodies From Plasma
October 31st 2024Deriving antibodies from plasma products involves several steps, typically starting from the collection of plasma and ending with the purification of the desired antibodies. These are: plasma collection; plasma pooling; fractionation; antibody purification; concentration and formulation; quality control; and packaging and storage. This process results in a purified antibody product that can be used for therapeutic purposes, diagnostic tests, or research. Each step is critical to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of the final product. Applications of AI/GenAI in many of these steps can significantly help in the optimization of purification and yield of the desired antibodies. Some specific use-cases are: selecting and optimizing plasma units for optimized plasma pooling; GenAI solution for enterprise search on internal knowledge portal; analysing and optimizing production batch profitability, inventory, yields; monitoring production batch key performance indicators for outlier identification; monitoring production equipment to predict maintenance events; and reducing quality control laboratory testing turnaround time.
Profiling Volatile Organic Compounds in Whisky with GC×GC–MS
November 1st 2024Researchers from Austria, Greece, and Italy conducted a study to analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in Irish and Scotch whiskys using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) Arrow with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC×GC–MS) to examine the organoleptic characteristics that influence the taste of spirits.
