Chemical Industry LC & GC Separation Solutions Guide

Significance of the Topic

In modern chemical industries, precise separation and analysis of complex mixtures underpin quality control, process optimization and regulatory compliance. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/UHPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) techniques, paired with tailored column chemistries, enable accurate characterization of petroleum fractions, specialty chemicals, carbohydrates, polymers and more.

Objectives and Overview of the Application Note

This guide presents a concise survey of Phenomenex separation solutions for the chemical sector. It outlines strategies for matching sample matrix and analyte properties with appropriate LC and GC column phases, film thicknesses, geometries and sample-preparation sorbents. Key applications spanning carbohydrates, petroleum oils, commodity/specialty chemicals, aromatic compounds, acidic/basic solutions and polymers are highlighted.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Column selection is driven by three parameters in the resolution equation: efficiency (particle size, column length, ID), selectivity (stationary phase chemistry) and retention (film thickness, temperature). LC modes include reversed phase (C18, C6-phenyl, biphenyl), HILIC (NH2), ion exchange and mixed-mode chemistries. GC column types range from nonpolar dimethylpolysiloxanes to mid- and high-polarity phases (phenyl, cyanopropyl, polyethylene glycol). Sample preparation uses SPE sorbents (silica, polymeric and mixed-mode) to isolate analytes. Instrument platforms include HPLC/UHPLC systems, GC and GC-MS, with detectors such as FID, ECD, refractive index, UV/Vis absorbance, ELSD and tandem MS.

Main Results and Discussion

Key application examples:

• Carbohydrates and saccharides analyzed by HILIC on Luna NH2 and porous ion-exchange (Rezex) columns for monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and fermentation broths.
• Petroleum oils profiled using GC: high-temperature ZB-1HT Inferno for C10–C90+, SimDist glass-infusion columns for boiling-point distributions, and low-bleed phases for PAHs and PCBs.
• Commodity and specialty chemicals separated by LC and GC: core-shell Kinetex EVO C18 for nitroamines, PFP/F5 for isomeric aromatic compounds, and ZB-624plus for solvent purity.
• Acidic and basic solutions: Gemini and Kinetex EVO columns operate pH 1–12 to optimize retention of organic acids and basic alkaloids, while ZB-FFAP and ZB-WAXplus address volatile organics.
• Polymers and oligomers: organic GPC on Phenogel columns for molecular-weight distributions, and aqueous GFC on PolySep media for water-soluble polymers.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These separation solutions deliver:

• Enhanced resolution and sensitivity through optimized selectivity and efficiency.
• Extended column lifetime under harsh pH or high-temperature conditions.
• Reduced analysis time and solvent consumption with sub-2 µm and core-shell phases.
• Robust sample preparation workflows that protect instrumentation and improve data quality.

Future Trends and Possibilities of Use

Emerging directions include development of multifunctional stationary phases for renewable-feedstock analysis, integration with UHPLC and high-temp GC platforms, and AI-driven method optimization tools. Advanced guard-column technologies and ultra-low-bleed phases will further enhance throughput and data reproducibility.

Conclusion

Phenomenex provides a comprehensive portfolio of LC, GC and SPE technologies tailored to the chemical industry. By aligning column chemistry and geometry with specific analyte properties and matrices, these solutions enable efficient, reproducible separations across a wide range of applications.