Editorial Article: How to Choose the Best GC Column for You!

Optimizing your chromatographic separation starts by choosing the correct column, but this can be a daunting task. Should you borrow from a colleague, root around in the back of the store cupboard or choose your favorites from last time around? Phenomenex has created a step-by-step guide to help you pick both the best GC column, and liner for your needs.

When choosing a GC column, the most common concern is whether you can achieve the desired sample resolution in an efficient period of time. Selectivity, which is determined by the column chemistry, has the biggest impact on resolution. This GC Selection Guide helps simplify the thought process behind choosing the best selectivity for your sample and application.

Furthermore, once you have chosen your desired selectivity, there are three dimension considerations to consider when purchasing a column: length, diameter and film thickness. Choosing the best dimensions for your column further increases separation efficiency and directly affects run times. Whilst there are nominal values which are good to start at with a new sample, the online GC Selection Tool makes choosing the very best dimensions for your needs even easier.

Need any further help? The online GC Liner Finder helps you find the correct liner for your GC system and sample in under a minute, whilst this 5 Phase GC Selection Guide is there to help with all your specific 5 phase needs.