Simple Tests and Decision Criteria

Let us look at names of computers 200 MHz tells us the clock speed of the computer 32 MB RAM says something about the random access memory 4 GB describes the size of the hard disk. Visio, Presario and others are smart marketing names that do not tell us anything about the characteristics of the product. The situation is similar for HPLC stationary phases. What do the manufacturers tell us in a name of their product  

There are stationary-phase material names that give no information, such as INTERCHROM and ASAHIPAK, and others that do tell you something about themselves, such as LiChrospher and Inertsil. This subject cannot be dealt with in detail, but in the Table below you should find some help. Listed are numbers, letters, prefixes and suffixes from names that give an indication of properties of column materials. 

AQUA Aqueous phases with hydrophilic endcapping for the separation of polar, organic analytes with hydrophilic eluent or pure water (polar RP phases). 

NPS Non-Porous Beads, Non-Porous Resins, Non-Porous Silica suitable for quick separation (it is necessary to have a device with low death volume) 

EPS Extended Polar Selectivity C g with polar characteristics (see also AQ) 

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