Analytical advantages of highly stable stationary phases for reversed-phase LC

During the past five years, many manufacturers of high performance liquid c hromatography (HPLC) columns have focused on improving stationary-phase sta bility and reproducibility, Improved column stability - both chemical and t hermal - offers new advantages, such as decreased analysis time and new met hods of selectivity optimization. More stable HPLC packing materials have b een achieved through advances in silane chemistry; however, the greatest im provements in stability have resulted from the use of alternative nonsilica supports such as synthetic organic polymers, alumina, and zirconia. In thi s article, the authors describe their use of various test solutes to compar e the efficiency, selectivity, and hydrophobic retention mechanisms of five commercially available HPLC columns based on silica, alumina, zirconia, an d polystyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene (PS-DVB).