Phenomenex, a US supplier of separation science consumables, has added two mid-polarity columns to its Zebron Inferno high-temperature GC column line.
The ZB-XLB-HT and ZB-35HT are said to be the first mid-polarity columns to withstand temperatures up to 400ËšC, enabling analyses of compounds with high molecular weights and boiling points.
These non-metal columns are stable at high temperatures due to proprietary coating and binding technologies, providing long lifetime, low bleed and low activity. They are suitable for analyses in pharmaceutical and toxicology applications.
Standard fused-silica columns are not usually engineered to withstand temperatures above 380ËšC and their polyimide coating begins to degrade, eventually becoming brittle and inflexible. The Phenomenex Inferno columns are specially designed for high-temperature analysis, with more rugged stationary phases and coating.
The ZB-XLB-HT Inferno is an MS-certified column offering low activity and good peak shape for acidic and basic samples. Its proprietary phase is suitable for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, herbicides and many EPA methods.
The ZB-35HT is a 35%-phenyl-65%-dimethylpolysiloxane intermediate-polarity column that enables high molecular weight analysis. The company says it is suitable for trace analysis with bleed-sensitive detectors. Applications include semi-volatile compounds, pharmaceuticals, steroids and many EPA methods.
"Our Zebron columns were the first non-metal columns to provide stability at very high temperatures," said Ngoc Nguyen, brand manager for Phenomenex.
"The increased column stability can be beneficial even for routine temperature ramps above 320°C, which can cause some GC columns to become brittle and produce high bleed."