Multiple Chemistry Phases? The More LC Columns the Merrier

I don’t know about you, but I can never have too many shoes. At least I do not have a strict rule as to how many pairs I should own. Many times I have set off on a mission to find the perfect shoe just right to conquer the world in, only to find myself in a similar situation to Cinderella’s stepsisters: trying to squeeze my feet into shoes that look elegant, high quality, and soft, but somehow aren’t quite right. Comparatively speaking, one could ask if we really need such an assortment of columns in analytical research. Is it really worth investing in different chemistry phases? Would it be better, perhaps, to force the ache, as did Cinderella’s stepsisters, and push the separation down the wrong column in the hope of resolving accurate peaks regardless of their difficulty?

In method development, C18 columns may not always be the answer, as this resin may have difficulty resolving aromatic, polar, or moderately-polar analytes. It might be worth considering alternative chemistry for effective separations. After all, we all have pains, but irreproducible chromatography should not be one of them. Instead of forcing the chromatography to fit, the new Thermo Scientific Accucore Biphenyl columns can reduce the time spent optimizing gradients to resolve co-eluting peaks. Taking advantage of Pi-pi interactions between the analyte and stationary phase, this chemistry offers complementary selectivity to a C18 column and the ability to resolve isomeric compounds, such as drugs of abuse and steroid hormones. This complementary selectivity can also help separate critical peaks from matrix interferences.

The Accucore Biphenyl columns utilize an optimized packing procedure, which offers chromatographers a rugged platform for a variety of matrices. Cost-per-sample is minimized as the column demonstrates outstanding lifetimes. Based on core enhanced technology, Accucore liquid chromatography reversed phase columns provide fast, high-resolution separations without the elevated backpressures seen using sub-2-µm particles.

Fast and easy separation of 23 drugs of abuse, including high, stable resolution of isobaric opioids from human urine by UHPLC-MS/MS

This Technical Note describes robust analytical methods for the measurement and separation of 23 drugs of abuse with excellent resolution for isobaric opioids and high retention time and peak shape stability using a “dilute and shoot” approach. These methods are highly applicable at hospitals and screening laboratories who are researching new methods and tools for screening protocols, and managing the ever changing landscape of new novel psychoactive substances.

Increasing method throughput to meet the increasing demand, while maintaining robust separation is always a top requirement. The new Accucore Biphenyl solid core 2.6 µm analytical column is highly efficient and shows a well-tuned balance of robustness, efficiency and selectivity and is a powerful and robust tool for the determination of drugs of abuse. The new column is used in combination with the Thermo Scientific Horizon UHPLC and Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry system.

Rather than forcing the separation, it’s worth testing the Accucore Biphenyl LC columns, which were designed for robust and reliable separations with many benefits:

- Fast separations with excellent resolution and sensitivity

- Lower backpressures so that UHPLC is not required

- Mixed-mode selectivity for aromatic and moderately polar analytes

- Enhanced Pi-pi interactions with aromatics

- Excellent lot-to-lot reproducibility

- Great column lifetime

- Compatibility with 100% aqueous conditions

- A rugged column suitable for a variety of matrices

Additional resources:

- Find out more at thermofisher.com/biphenyl

- Speak to a specialist about the NEW Accucore Biphenyl LC Column

- Search thermofisher.com/appslab for the latest analytical application repository and download one-click eWorkflows. Search methods by the compound, column, instrument or any key method parameter.