LCGC North America-03-01-2006

This month's installment of "Column Watch" is the first of a two-part series in which Ron Majors examines the trends and highlights in columns and consumables at Pittcon 2006.

In this month's edition, John Hinshaw takes a look at how choosing a suitable syringe for a specific application can be difficult, especially if the inlet system has special requirements; choosing the wrong syringe ca cause significant problems.

John Dolan explores how an on-line discussion group can be a great source for free consultation from experts in the field.

The first of a two-part series addresses HPLC pumps, sample introduction systems, and columns for nanoLC-MS.

Separation and retention of both polar and nonpolar compounds by the same stationary phase can be a useful approach for analyses of complex samples with a broad range of chemical properties. Typical stationary phases are designed for retention of either polar or nonpolar compounds so that multiple steps are required when designing a separation strategy. Hydride silica–based stationary phases are new materials with properties that allow for the simultaneous retention of both polar and nonpolar compounds over a range of aqueous–organic mobile phase compositions. Adjustment of the aqueous–organic ratio will determine whether polar or nonpolar compounds have greater retention.

News from the chromatography industry.