From Small Idea to Big Dream

In 2005, a team within our LC development group began working on a novel phenyl chemistry centered around the biphenyl molecule. The dream was to develop a new stationary phase, one with a unique selectivity compared to other LC columns. Achieving this would provide labs with a novel tool to help with their LC analysis—an exciting prospect for any team. Little did they know how big an impact they were about to make on the entire chromatography industry.

Biphenyl 20th Anniversary Logo

“The advantages found in using the Biphenyl column are certainly the high price-quality ratio, the durability of the column, in terms of numbers of injections, as well as the analytical reproducibility” - Cedam Italia, Italy

“We knew it was different, and different is good.”

Early results on prototype columns instantly demonstrated our Biphenyl LC column's truly unique selectivity. It proved to be especially useful for analytes containing electron-withdrawing functionalities and could also be easily modified from analysis to analysis with varying mobile phase conditions. Additionally, it was particularly adept at separating compounds that are hard to resolve on C18 columns. Randy Romesberg, one of the scientists who helped develop this phase, stated “We knew it was different, and different is good.”

The team had achieved a first in the industry—the launch of the first LC column with a Biphenyl stationary phase.

“The separation of aflatoxin B1, G1, B2, G2, OTA, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, T2, H-T2, fumonisin B1 and B2 after CrossTOX cleanup in high-throughput mycotoxin analysis was very good. The shorter conditioning times were also very beneficial. I can certainly also imagine the Inert Biphenyl column as an alternative for other applications.”
- LCTech GMbH, Germany

The Right Phase at the Right Time

Long regarded as having superior chromatographic performance in drugs of abuse analysis, Restek's Biphenyl LC column became an essential tool at the height of the U.S. opioid crisis in 2011. Our Big Pain Application demonstrates its incredible performance when separating 231 compounds, 40+ isobars, 10 drug classes, and 22 ESI- compounds in 10 minutes. The Biphenyl’s incredible separating power and superiority in pain management applications made it a clear choice for clinical testing laboratories across the U.S.

“We were able to easily validate the iMethod on the Restek Raptor Biphenyl… for our 50 analyte pain panel on the AB Sciex Triple Quad 4500. We were able to achieve a faster run time than our previous column, with great separation between analytes, especially with opiates. We have been very happy with the column and currently run it for all four of our Triple Quad 4500s.”
- Oklahoma Pain Center, U.S.

20 Years of Restek Innovation

From our founding 40 years ago to today, we haven’t stopped innovating. For our biphenyl phase, that means pairing it with the most advanced column hardware in the industry. Now available across five column families, including our latest Raptor and Force Inert columns, Restek's Biphenyl LC column has cemented itself as a key achievement for all Restek and a huge milestone for chromatography.

See Biphenyl in Action

Explore how this innovative phase can help you with your analysis. Learn More→		 biphenyl lc column
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