Guide to HPLC and the Role of HPLC Solvents

Guide to HPLC and the Role of HPLC Solvents

Overview

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  • Source: Advent Chembio Pvt. Ltd.

  • Date: 15 Jan,2025

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a powerful analytical tool developed for the  separation, identification and quantification of the components present in a mixture.HPLC as a technique is most popular due to the accuracy and speed at which it functions, it is widely used in    the pharmaceutical, food, environmental, and chemical industries. Nevertheless, even  though  the equipment and techniques of HPLC are very important, it cannot be overemphasized that the mobile phase which is composed of high purity solvents, is also a key ingredient.

Advent is one of the leading players in Fine & Specialty Chemicals Industry in the production of HPLC grade solvents which maintain the same high standards across the board. These Solvents are fundamental to obtaining accurate and repeatable measurements through chromatographic analysis.

In this guide we will cover the basic concepts of HPLC, focusing on HPLC solvents, how to choose suitable HPLC solvents and why Advent is the favorite company in the world in the field of chromatography.

Understanding HPLC: An Overview

HPLC is a chromatographic technique that employs a liquid as the mobile phase and a solid phase as the stationary phase for the purpose of separating the components in a mixture. A column filled with stationary phase is packed into the infinitesimal space confined by solid surfaces and the sample to be separated is dissolved in the liquid and injected into this column under high pressure. The separation of compounds occurs as a result of their active interaction with the stationary phase and differs in polarity, charge or size.

Key Components of an HPLC System:

  1. Solvent Reservoirs: Hold mobile phases containing either water and organic solvents, and/or buffers.
  2. Pump: Enables the mobile phase to be fed at great pressure to ensure some reasonable and consistent flow rates.
  3. Injector: Adds the sample to the mobile phase. Increased precision and repeatability coefficients are noted with automatic systems.
  4. Column: Part of the column which usually has a packing of silica or polymer particles as the stationary phase.
  5. Detector: It measures the amount of individual peak which are separated such as popular ones- UV- Vis, fluorescence and mass spectrometry.
  6. Data System: Encodes the detector signals in the form of chromatograms which help to visualize the structure of the sample.

HPLC is known for its flexibility and it can be used for the examination of the wide range of materials which range from the small organic molecules to the macromolecules. However, it should be noted that the results of the analyses are fairly dependent on the mobile phase solvent quality.

The Role of HPLC Solvents

The quality of the mobile phase, in this case HPLC solvents, contribute significantly to the success of the chromatographic analysis. They do affect the effectiveness and dependency of the analysis by contributing to separation and retention times, and even detection of an analyte.

At Advent, quality of HPLC-grade solvents is ensured with utmost care. These solvents are specifically designed to fulfill the requirements of the industry in terms of chemistry, UV transparency, and constancy.

Why High-Quality Solvents Matter:

  1. Purity: Impurities can cause baseline noise, ghost peaks, and inconsistent results. Advent’s solvents ensure purity that minimizes these risks.
  2. UV Transparency: For UV-Vis detection, solvents must not absorb light in detection wavelengths, allowing accurate analyte measurement.
  3. Reproducibility: Solvent consistency across batches ensures that analyses can be repeated with reliable results.
  4. Instrument Longevity: High-quality solvents reduce the risk of column clogging and pump damage, protecting sensitive instrumentation.
  5. Regulatory Compliance: Advent’s solvents meet stringent pharmacopeial standards (USP, EP, etc.), ensuring data reliability for regulatory submissions. Explore Advent ’s solvent offerings here.

Types of HPLC Techniques and the Role of Solvents

Different HPLC techniques require specific solvent properties to achieve optimal separation:

 Reverse-Phase HPLC (RP-HPLC):

  1. Most common technique.
  2. Non-polar stationary phase with a polar mobile phase (e.g., water and methanol).
  3. Suitable for hydrophobic compounds like lipids and pharmaceutical APIs.
  4. Advent’s solvents ensure   minimal
  5. contamination for precise separations.

 Normal-Phase HPLC (NP-HPLC):

  1. Polar stationary phase with a non-polar mobile phase.
  2. Ideal for polar compounds like amino acids and sugars.
  3. High-purity solvents prevent interference during analysis.

 Ion-Exchange HPLC:

  1. Separates ionic compounds using charged stationary phases.
  2. Often used for biomolecules such as peptides and proteins.
  3. Advent’s solvents are free from ionic
  4. contaminants to ensure clean separations.

Size-Exclusion HPLC (SEC):

  1. Separates molecules based on size, with larger molecules eluting first.
  2. Commonly applied in polymer and protein analysis.

Affinity HPLC:

  1. Relies on specific biological interactions, such as antigen-antibody binding.
  2. Demands solvents with high biocompatibility.
  3. Each technique requires solvents tailored to its specific analytical requirements. Advent provides solvents that cater to a diverse range of applications, ensuring high performance in all HPLC techniques.

 Criteria for Selecting HPLC Solvents

The success of chromatographic analysis depends on choosing the right solvent. Here are key criteria to consider:

 Purity Levels:

Opt for high pure HPLC-grade solvents to avoid introducing contaminants that can skew results. Advent’s solvents are crafted with >99.9% purity.

UV Transparency:

Advent’s solvents are rigorously tested for low absorbance in detection wavelengths.

Low Residue and Particulates:

Advent’s solvents are filtered to remove particulate matter that could clog columns or disrupt flow.

Chemical Compatibility:

Solvents must be compatible with the stationary phase and analyte properties. Advent offers solvents tailored for various HPLC applications.

Batch Consistency:

Uniformity across solvent batches ensures reproducibility in routine and large-scale analyses. Explore Advent’s manufacturing processes here.

Why Advent is the Trusted Choice for HPLC Solvents:

Advent is a leader in the production of fine and specialty chemicals, including HPLC-grade solvents. Here’s why researchers and industries worldwide rely on Advent:

State-of-the-Art Facilities:

cGMP-compliant and FDA-approved facilities. Equipped with advanced analytical instruments such  as  HPLC, GC, and  UV-Vis spectrophotometers.

Uncompromising Quality Standards:

Rigorous quality control ensures solvents meet pharmacopeial specifications like USP, EP, and BP.

Diverse Product Portfolio:

  1. Includes HPLC-grade solvents, GC standards, and pharmacopeia-grade chemicals.
  2. Tailored solutions for specific chromatographic needs.

Sustainability and Innovation:

  1. Focus on  eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
  2. Constantly innovating to address evolving industry requirements.

 Customer-Centric Approach:

  1. Expert guidance for solvent selection and application.
  2. Dedicated support teams to address client queries.
  3. Learn more about Advent ’s mission and expertise on their About page.

Applications of Advent’s HPLC Solvents

Advent’s HPLC solvents are integral to:

  1. Pharmaceutical Analysis: a process that ensures the purity of the APIs and compliance with the requirements of authorities.
  2. Environmental Monitoring: quantifying the levels of various contaminants in things like water, soil, air, etc. 
  3. Food Safety Testing: this is the analysis of additives, preservatives and other foreign material.
  4. Industrial Chemicals: suitable for product research and quality assurance in production settings.

Empowering Analytical Excellence

Advent ’s HPLC solvents are more than just chemicals—they are the foundation of reliable and precise chromatographic  analysis. By ensuring the highest standards of quality and purity, Advent empowers industries to achieve excellence in research, quality assurance, and compliance.

Whether your focus is on pharmaceutical formulations, environmental studies, or innovative chemical development, Advent is your trusted partner for superior chromatographic performance. For more information or to explore Advent’s comprehensive product range, visit Advent

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