Analysis Routine

In LC and LC/MS analyses of trace compounds, vial selection is very important. Certain vial materials can cause unintentional compound adsorption, reducing analytical sensitivity. Shimadzu has developed Shim-vial™, a specially treated vial designed to minimize sodium (Na) elution. Comparative studies demonstrated that Shim-vials exhibit significantly lower Na elution levels than conventional vials. Furthermore, results showed a direct correlation between higher Na elution and increased adsorption of basic compounds, suggesting that metallic ions play a key role in this adsorption phenomenon.

Reversed phase mode is the most frequently used method of separation in high-performance liquid chromatography. This method of separation uses hydrophobic interactions and can accommodate the separation of various compounds. A number of columns for reversed phase mode are commercially available from multiple manufacturers. It is crucial that basic separation characteristics of each column is assessed to determine which column is the most suitable for analysis. Using the Shim-pack reversed phase column series as examples, this article describes the basic separation characteristics of each column and functional group, and introduces the differences in usage of the columns within the Shim-pack series.