Characterization of HPLC packings

Several chromatographic test procedures are in use for the characterization of commercially available packings. The results of the test procedure used in our laboratory are updated and further refined. Two well-defined physico-chemical properties of packings can be derived from this test procedure, the hydrophobicity of a packing and the silanophilic activity at pH 7. In addition, our method is unique in its ability to differentiate between classical packings and packings with incorporated polar groups. We can also distinguish CN packings or fluorinated packings. Our database now includes over 100 commercially available packings. The ability of the test to cleanly discriminate between different classes of packings has been strengthened. Limited comparisons with other published tests are now possible as well, and the results of these comparisons are discussed.