Chromatography Columns and Supplies Catalog

Significance

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and related sample preparation techniques are critical steps in modern analytical workflows. By removing matrix interferences and enriching target analytes, robust SPE protocols improve sensitivity, reproducibility, and instrument uptime for HPLC, UPLC, LC-MS, GC, and spectroscopic methods. Streamlined sample prep solutions address key challenges in bioanalysis, environmental monitoring, forensic toxicology, and pharmaceutical R&D.

Study Objectives and Overview

This catalog presents Waters Corporation’s 2023–2024 offerings in sample preparation and laboratory automation. Key goals include:

• Introducing new sorbents and hardware that simplify workflows and reduce solvent use.
• Detailing formats, chemistries, and best-practice protocols for routine and high-throughput SPE.
• Demonstrating methods to remove proteins, phospholipids, and other interferences.
• Highlighting on-line SPE and pass-through plates for fast, reproducible cleanup.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Waters SPE products leverage advanced polymer and silica chemistries combined with precision hardware:

• Oasis™ sorbents (HLB, PRiME HLB, MCX, MAX, WCX, WAX) feature water-wettable copolymers stable from pH 0–14 and require no conditioning steps.
• Sep-Pak™ sorbents cover reversed-phase (C18, C8, tC18), normal-phase (silica, alumina, florisil), ion-exchange (AccellPlus CM/QMA), and specialty phases (DNPH, PoraPak RDX, AC2).
• Format options include cartridges (Plus, Vac, glass), 96-well plates, μElution plates, bulk sorbents, and on-line SPE columns for UPLC.
• Laboratory automation accessories encompass vacuum manifolds, positive-pressure systems, pipetting robots, and integrated software for high-throughput processing.

Main Results and Discussion

Innovations in SPE performance include:

• Simplified protocols: Oasis PRiME HLB cuts traditional 5-step workflows to 3 steps, eliminating conditioning and equilibration while removing >95% of phospholipids and proteins.
• Enhanced cleanliness: Oasis PRiME MCX combines reversed-phase and strong cation exchange for targeted basic compound cleanup and phospholipid removal.
• Consistency and speed: μElution plates concentrate analytes in low volumes (25–250 μL) and achieve 30–50 % faster flow rates versus conventional sorbents.
• On-line SPE integration: UPLC pressure-enabled columns with Oasis sorbents automate extraction, concentration, and separation in a single turnkey system.
• Pass-through plates: Ostro™ plates offer robust protein precipitation and phospholipid removal with minimal method development, supporting direct sample injection.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These SPE solutions deliver tangible advantages across various fields:

• Bioanalysis and clinical testing: Rapid cleanup of plasma and urine for drugs, metabolites, and peptides with high recovery and reproducibility.
• Environmental monitoring: Trace analysis of pesticides, endocrine disruptors, and explosives using certified sorbents and EPA-approved methods.
• Forensics and toxicology: Automated extraction of whole blood samples for cannabinoid and drug-of-abuse screening.
• Food safety and consumer products: Removal of fats and interferences for vitamin, pesticide, and additive quantitation.
• Pharmaceutical synthesis: PoraPak Rxn cartridges streamline post-reaction cleanup under broad solvent and pH conditions.

Future Trends and Possibilities

Advances likely to shape SPE and sample prep include:

• Further miniaturization and μElution technologies for ultra-low volume analysis.
• Integration of artificial intelligence in method development and predictive sorbent selection.
• Green chemistry approaches reducing solvent volumes and enabling biodegradable sorbents.
• Enhanced on-line coupling of SPE with mass spectrometry for real-time monitoring of complex matrices.
• Expanded automation with walk-away systems, cloud-based data management, and remote troubleshooting.

Conclusion

Waters’ 2023–2024 sample preparation catalog showcases a comprehensive suite of SPE chemistries, formats, and automation tools designed to solve diverse analytical challenges. By prioritizing ease of use, consistency, and environmental sustainability, these solutions empower laboratories to achieve higher throughput, better sensitivity, and greater data reliability.

References

No specific literature citations were provided in the original text.