CORTECS Premier Columns
Solid-core speed. Consistent results.
Achieve superior chromatographic performance with CORTECS Premier Columns, combining the power of solid-core particle technology with MaxPeak High Performance Surfaces (HPS). Designed for scientists who demand precision, these columns deliver exceptional peak shapes, low backpressure, and reliable data across a wide range of analytes.
Why Choose CORTECS Premier Columns?
- Maximize efficiency: Solid-core particles provide higher resolution and faster throughput than fully porous particles.
- Improve peak shape: MaxPeak HPS Technology minimizes unwanted interactions with metal surfaces, enhancing data quality.
- Versatile compatibility: Ideal for small molecule and biomolecule LC-MS applications.
- Scalable performance: Available in 1.6 μm, 2.7 μm, and 5 μm particle sizes for seamless method transfer across UPLC, UHPLC, and HPLC systems.
CORTECS Premier Columns
Specifications
Overview
- Superior peak shape: Enhanced resolution and faster data processing.
- Low backpressure: Enables high-speed separations without compromising performance.
- Consistent results: Reliable performance from first injection to last—no lengthy conditioning required.
- Extended column lifetime: Compatible with VanGuard FIT for added protection and durability.
Recommended Use: For reliable high throughput analysis of all your analytes on any LC system.
CORTECS Premier Column Characteristics
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General purpose reversed-phase C18 Column -
High efficiency at lower backpressures
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Reduction in non-specific adsorption with MaxPeak HPS Technology
Balanced retention of acids, bases, and neutrals at low and mid-range pH.
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General purpose reversed-phase C18 Column
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Positive surface charge at low pH
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High efficiency at lower backpressures
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Reduction in non-specific adsorption with MaxPeak HPS Technology
A positively charged surface delivers excellent peak shape for basic compounds at low pH.
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General purpose reversed-phase C18 Column
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100% water wettable to increase the reversed phase retention of polar analytes
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High efficiency at lower backpressures
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Reduction in non-specific adsorption with MaxPeak HPS Technology
Enables use of 100% aqueous mobile phase and increased retention of both polar and non-polar compounds.
Performance backed by data
CORTECS Premier Columns deliver:
- Higher efficiency and resolution – Solid-core particles yield sharper peaks and better separation.
- Faster analysis – Achieve up to 3x more throughput with shorter run times.
- Improved peak shape – Better symmetry and reproducibility, even for metal-sensitive analytes.
- Greater recovery – Enhanced signal and accuracy for low-abundance or reactive compounds.
High efficiency, right out of the box
CORTECS Premier Columns are engineered for immediate performance with no extended conditioning required.
- Fast startup: Achieve optimal efficiency and sharp peak shapes from the very first injection.
- Minimized downtime: Spend less time equilibrating and more time running samples.
Versatility across applications
Engineered for diverse workflows, CORTECS Premier Columns excel in:
- Pharma and Biopharma – Fast separations, impurity profiling, and quantitation in complex matrices.
- Environmental and Food Testing – Detect trace contaminants, additives, and nutrients.
- Clinical, Forensic & Industrial – Reliable drug screening and impurity analysis.
Explore detailed applications in Waters technical resources.
Seamless scalability for any LC system
Maintaining a consistent ρ (rho) value, the ratio of the total particle diameter to the solid core diameter, is key to achieving seamless scalability across particle sizes and LC systems.
- Uniform performance across formats: A consistent ρ value supports similar chromatographic results across 1.6 µm, 2.7 µm and 5 µm CORTECS Premier Columns.
- Scalable methods without reoptimization: Enables method transfer between systems (UPLC to HPLC) with minimal changes in performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes CORTECS Premier Columns different from other solid-core columns?
CORTECS Premier Columns combine solid-core particle efficiency with Inert MaxPeak Premier hardware to minimize unwanted interactions and improve peak shapes, especially for metal-sensitive compounds.
Do CORTECS Premier Columns require conditioning before use?
No. These columns deliver high efficiency and peak performance from the first injection, with minimal conditioning needed.
Can I transfer methods between different particle sizes?
Yes. Maintaining a consistent ρ (rho) value allows for seamless scalability across particle sizes from 1.6 µm, 2.7 µm and 5 µm, even when switching LC systems.
Are CORTECS Premier Columns compatible with all LC systems?
Yes. They are designed to perform reliably across UHPLC, HPLC, and legacy LC platforms without compromising results.
What applications are CORTECS Premier Columns best suited for?
They are ideal for a wide range of workflows including pharmaceuticals, biopharma, environmental analysis, food and beverage testing, clinical research, and chemical QC.
How do I know which CORTECS Premier Column is right for my method?
Waters offers tools and resources to help guide your column selection based on analyte type, matrix, and application. You can use the Column Selectivity Chart, browse application notes, or contact Waters Technical Support for assistance.
When should I choose CORTECS Premier Columns over standard CORTECS Columns?
Choose CORTECS Premier Columns when analyzing metal-sensitive compounds (such as acidic, basic, or phosphorylated analytes), working with complex matrices, or when peak shape, recovery and consistent results are critical. The inert MaxPeak Premier Column hardware minimizes adsorption and secondary interactions, offering improved reproducibility and sensitivity, especially in demanding applications.
What is the VanGuard™ FIT, and when should I use it with CORTECS Premier Columns?
The VanGuard FIT is an integrated guard column that connects seamlessly to CORTECS Premier Columns without extra fittings or dead volume. It protects the analytical column from particulates and strongly retained compounds, helping extend column life and maintain peak performance, ideal for complex or dirty samples.
How does solid-core particle technology improve column performance?
Solid-core particles offer shorter diffusion paths than fully porous particles, resulting in higher plate efficiency, faster separations, and lower backpressure. This means better resolution and quicker run times, without compromising performance.
What are MaxPeak™ High Performance Surfaces (HPS), and why are they important to CORTECS Columns?
MaxPeak HPS is a hybrid organic/inorganic surface that is formed through a vapor deposition process to act as a barrier between metal hardware surfaces and your analytes, reducing non-specific adsorption and oxidation. This improves sensitivity, peak shape, and reproducibility for metal-sensitive analytes like acids, phosphates, and biomolecules. Read this whitepaper to learn more.
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