Ultra high-performance liquid chromatography, UHPLC, uses columns packed with porous sub-2-µm particles (usually 1.8 µm) to vastly increase throughput and resolving power compared to conventional 5-µm columns. Pressures can surpass 19,000 psi. Limited solvent consumption, the ability to work under a broader pressure range, and lower band broadening are further enhancements. UHPLC’s 10× reduction in analysis time strengthens its popularity in areas including the pharmaceutical industry, food safety, and the clinical field.
The choice of detectors for use with UHPLC is wide-ranging, including UV-VIS, fluorescence, photodiode array, ELSD, quadrupole, and most recently, refractive index. For flexibility, many instruments offer the ability to run both conventional and UHPLC on one instrument. A final tip: When making the switch from HPLC to UHPLC, resist the temptation to overload the smaller columns.
Discover and compare Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatographs: