LC columns have been an important part of Agilent’s portfolio since we started in HPLC. ZORBAX is a name with 30 years’ experience behind it, but it is by no means a stagnant brand. We continually innovate and introduce new bonded phases, sizes and configurations to provide improved performance and column-to-column reproducibility.
Below are some helpful resources for changing to Agilent ZORBAX LC Columns.
Changing to Common Column Diameters to Maintain Equivalent Linear Velocity for Different Column IDs
The equation beneath the chart helps determine the flow rate for the smaller column ID if the column you are
using differs from those listed here. The goal is to keep the same linear velocity when you scale down to keep peaks eluting in the same order. Or if you are just starting with one of the smaller columns, then you know what corresponds to a typical flow rate. For a capillary column, we are using flow rates in the low μL/min range and for nano columns the flow rates are down to nL/min – very low flow rates.
|
Column Type |
Column ID (mm) |
Flow Rate |
|
Analytical |
4.6 |
1.0 mL/min |
|
Solvent Saver |
3.0 |
0.42 mL/min |
|
NarrowBore |
2.1 |
0.21 mL/min |
|
MicroBore |
1.0 |
47 μL/min |
|
Capillary |
0.5 |
12 μL/min |
|
Capillary |
0.3 |
4.2 μL/min |
|
Nano |
0.1 |
472 nL/min |
|
Nano |
0.075 |
266 nL/min |
|
Flow rate column 2 = (diameter column 2)2/(diameter column1)2 x Flow rate column 1 |
|
Maintain equivalent mobile phase linear velocity when changing column diameter. |
|
Typical Flow Rates and Column Loads Based on Column Size and Separation |
|
Column ID |
Column Type |
Separation Type (small molecules) |
|
Easy (a > 1.5) |
Difficult (a = 1.2 – 1.5) |
|
2.1 mm |
Narrow Bore |
0.5 – 5 mg |
0.1 – 0.5 mg |
|
4.6 mm |
Analytical |
3 – 15 mg |
0.5 – 3 mg |
|
21.2 mm |
Preparative |
70 – 400 mg |
20 – 70 mg |
|
50 mm |
Preparative |
400 – 2000 mg |
100 – 400 mg |
|
a = relative selectivity of the column phase between two compounds |
|
How to match columns to instruments |
|
Instrument |
Column Type |
|
1200 |
Start with Eclipse Plus 3.5μm (C18, C8, or Phenyl-Hexyl) |
|
RRLC (1200) |
RRHT column is required for optimized operation – Choose appropriate phase (Eclipse Plus C18 is the best first choice) |
|
Prep LC (1200) |
Agilent Prep or PrepHT |
|
1120 Compact LC |
Eclipse Plus or Agilent HC-C18(2) or TC-C18(2) |
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