LC Columns Physical Characteristics Chart
UHPLC Columns
Restek Column |
End Cap? |
Pore Size (Å) |
Carbon load (%) |
Applications |
Chromatographic Properties |
Similar Phases |
USP Code |
Y |
140 |
6 |
Applications similar to Pinnacle DB C18, but with less hydrophobic retention. Less retention can be useful for shortening analysis time, if resolution is adequate. | Highly base-deactivated spherical silica manufactured by Restek. Monomeric C8 bonding. Similar to Pinnacle DB C18, but the shorter alkyl chain provides less hydrophobic retention. |
Hypersil BDS C8, Spherisorb C8 |
L7 |
|
Y |
140 |
11 |
Hydrophobic C18 phase suitable for analyses of a wide range of compounds, from acidic through slightly basic. |
Highly base-deactivated spherical silica manufactured by Restek. Monomeric C18 bonding. |
Hypersil BDS C18, Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18, Spherisorb ODS |
L1 |
|
— |
140 |
6 |
Ideal for applications that require highly aqueous mobile phases, such as organic acids and water-soluble vitamins. |
Highly selective phase for polar analytes. Compatible with highly aqueous (up to 100%) mobile phases. Silica manufactured by Restek. |
Aquasil C18, AQUA C18, Hypersil Gold AQ, YMC ODS-Aq |
L1 |
|
Y |
140 |
8 |
Excellent choice for the analysis of steroids, tetracyclines, drug metabolites, and other compounds that contain some degree of unsaturation. |
Highly base-deactivated spherical silica manufactured by Restek. Unique reversed phase material that displays both increased retention and selectivity for aromatic and/or unsaturated compounds when compared to conventional alkyl and phenyl phases. |
Unique |
L11 |
|
Y |
140 |
— |
A polar group assists in deactivating surface silanols and contributes to unique separation selectivities for acids, bases, zwitterions, and other polar compounds. | One of a group of intrinsically base-deactivated (IBD) phases, with a polar group within, or intrinsic to, the alkyl bonded phase. Provides unique selectivity and high level of base deactivation while reducing or eliminating the need for mobile phase additives. |
Unique |
L68 |
|
Y |
140 |
6 |
Exhibits excellent peak shapes for a wide range of compounds, including nucleosides, nucleotides, and halogenated compounds. |
Highly base-deactivated spherical silica manufactured by Restek. Unique pentafluorophenyl phase with a propyl spacer. |
Discovery HS F5 |
L43 |
|
Y |
140 |
4 |
Suitable for a wide range of compounds, from acidic through slightly basic. Also useful for confirmation of analyses on a C18 or C8 column. Can be used in normal phase or reversed phase mode of separation. |
Highly base-deactivated spherical silica manufactured by Restek. Cyano bonding. |
Hypersil BDS Cyano, Spherisorb Cyano, Zorbax Eclipse XDB-CN |
L10 |
|
— |
140 |
— |
Normal phase mode of separation. |
Highly base-deactivated spherical silica manufactured by Restek. |
— |
L3 |
|
Y |
140 |
— |
Ideal for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. |
Specifically designed to resolve complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. |
Unique |
— |
HPLC Columns
Restek Column |
End Cap? |
Pore Size (Å) |
Carbon load (%) |
Applications |
Chromatographic Properties |
Similar Phases |
USP Code |
— |
100 |
5 |
Alternative selectivity to Ultra C18 or C8 columns, especially for polar analytes. Shortest chain alkyl phase available for reversed phase separations. |
Exceptionally stable C1 packing resists hydrolysis, even under acidic mobile phase conditions. Least retentive reversed phase hydrocarbon packing. |
Spherisorb C1 |
L13 |
|
Y |
100 |
9 |
Ideal for peptides and small proteins. |
Exceptionally stable C4 packing, with high bonding coverage and silanol base-deactivation. Exhibits shorter retention than C18 or C8 phases. |
Supelcosil Butyl (C4), Delta-Pak C4 |
L26 |
|
Y |
100 |
12 |
Selectivity and peak shape similar to Ultra C18, but less hydrophobic retention. |
Very retentive, high-purity, base-deactivated reversed phase packing that exhibits excellent peak shape for a wide range of compounds. |
Luna C8, Symmetry C8, Hypersil Gold C8 |
L7 |
|
Y |
100 |
20 |
Ideal for anilines, barbiturates, carbonyls, fat-soluble vitamins, fatty acids, glycerides, phthalates, PTH amino acids, steroids, other acids. |
A very retentive, high-purity phase that exhibits excellent peak shape for a wide range of compounds. Recommended as a general purpose reversed phase column. |
Discovery C18, Symmetry C18, Hypersil Gold C18, Luna C18, Zorbax C18, Kromasil C18, LiChrospher RP-18, Inertsil ODS-2, Develosil C18 |
L1 |
|
N |
100 |
15 |
Ideal for analyses that require >90% water in the mobile phase. Excellent for highly water soluble or poorly organic soluble compounds. Excellent for water-soluble vitamins and organic acids. |
Highly retentive and selective for reversed phase separations of polar analytes. Highly base deactivated. Compatible with highly aqueous (up to 100%) mobile phases. |
AQUA C18, Aquasil C18, Hypersil Gold AQ, YMC ODS-Aq |
L1 |
|
Y |
100 |
15 |
An excellent choice for the analysis of steroids, tetracyclines, drug metabolites, and other compounds that contain some degree of unsaturation. |
A unique reversed phase material that exhibits both increased retention and selectivity for aromatic and/or unsaturated compounds, compared to conventional alkyl and phenyl phases. |
Unique |
L11 |
|
Y |
100 |
17 |
A very suitable choice for analysis of steroids, tetracyclines, drug metabolites, and other compounds that contain some degree of unsaturation. |
A unique reversed phase material that exhibits superior retention and selectivity for aromatic and/or unsaturated compounds, compared to conventional alkyl and phenyl phases. This column is a great alternative to our Biphenyl phase when increased retention is required. |
Unique |
L11 |
|
N |
100 |
12 |
A polar group assists in deactivating surface silanols and contributes to unique separation selectivities for acids, bases, zwitterions, and other polar compounds. |
One of a group of intrinsically base-deactivated (IBD) phases, with a polar group within, or intrinsic to, the alkyl bonded phase. Provides unique selectivity and high level of base deactivation while reducing or eliminating the need for mobile phase additives. |
SymmetryShield, Discovery ABZ & ABZ+, Prism |
L68 |
|
Y |
100 |
15 |
Highly retentive for basic analytes. An excellent phase for separating nucleosides, nucleotides, purines, pyrimidines, and halogenated compounds. |
A pentafluorophenyl phase with a propyl spacer. |
Discovery HS F5 |
L43 |
|
Y |
100 |
8 |
Excellent for basic pharmaceuticals, steroids (normal or reversed phase conditions), or other basic compounds. |
High-purity cyano phase with reduced silanol activity. Often a better choice than C18 for basic pharmaceuticals. Cyano is the most stable bonded phase for normal phase mode. |
Platinum CN, Develosil Cyano, Luna CN, Hypersil Gold CN |
L10 |
|
N |
100 |
2 |
Superior general purpose amino phase. Ideal for carbohydrates. |
Recommended for normal phase analyses of mono- and disaccharides and other similar compounds. Can also serve as a weak anion exchanger, with aqueous buffers. |
Platinum Amino, Develosil NH2 |
L8 |
|
— |
100 |
— |
Ideal for normal phase applications. |
High purity, high surface area. |
— |
L3 |
Specialty Columns
Restek Column |
End Cap? |
Pore Size (Å) |
Carbon load (%) |
Applications |
Chromatographic Properties |
Similar Phases |
USP Code |
Y |
60 |
— |
Ideal for the analysis of aldehydes and ketones as DNPH derivatives. |
Highly retentive, highly selective phase, developed specifically for the analysis of aldehydes and ketones as DNPH derivatives. |
Unique |
— |
|
Y |
60 |
12 |
Ideal for LC/MS of basic solutes. Excellent for basic pharmaceuticals or other amine-containing compounds. |
Highly retentive phase for analytes containing amino functionality. |
BetaMax Base, Maxsil CN |
L10 |
|
N |
60 |
— |
Excellent resolution of challenging organic acids. |
Single 30cm column performs equally to two C18 columns in series. (AOAC Method 986.13) |
Unique |
— |
|
Y |
110 |
— |
Maximum resolution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. |
Proprietary stationary phase; resolves 16 PAHs in US EPA Method 610. Silica manufactured by Restek. |
Unique |
— |
|
— |
100 |
— |
Rapid analysis of carbamates. |
Proprietary stationary phase can process up to twice as many samples per hour, compared to a conventional C18 phase. |
Unique |
— |
|
— |
100 |
— |
Proprietary phase for the analysis of paraquat and diquat and other quaternary amines. |
High purity silica. |
Unique |
— |
Large Molecule Columns
Restek Column |
End Cap? |
Pore Size (Å) |
Carbon load (%) |
Applications |
Chromatographic Properties |
Similar Phases |
USP Code |
Y |
300 |
3.5 |
Proteins and other higher molecular weight compounds. Less retentive than C18 and C8 phases. |
Silica manufactured by Restek. |
BioBasic 4, Symmetry 300 C4, Jupiter 300 C4, Synchropak C4, 208 TP C4 |
L26 |
|
Y |
300 |
5 |
Proteins and other higher molecular weight compounds. Less retentive than C18 phase. |
Silica manufactured by Restek. |
BioBasic 8, Zorbax 300 OSB C8, Synchropak C8, 208 TP C8 |
L7 |
|
Y |
300 |
9 |
Proteins and other higher molecular weight compounds. |
Silica manufactured by Restek. |
BioBasic 18, Symmetry 300 C18, Jupiter 300 C18, Zorbax 300 OSB C18, Synchropak C18, 208 TP C18 |
L1 |
|
Y |
300 |
6.7 |
Exhibits excellent peak shape for a wide range of compounds; ideal for large molecule and biomolecule assays. |
Silica manufactured by Restek. |
Unique |
L11 |
|
Y |
300 |
5 |
Exhibits excellent peak shape for a wide range of compounds, including nucleosides, nucleotides, and halogenated compounds. |
Silica manufactured by Restek. |
Unique |
L43 |
|
— |
300 |
— |
Normal phase applications for highly retained high molecular weight compounds. |
Silica manufactured by Restek. |
— |
L3 |