Agilent MetaSil Series

These unique materials offer superior performance to standard compounds such as C18 by enabling activities such as improved retention, increased interaction between samples and the bonded phase, and improved base-deactivated properties.

MetaSil AQ materials are based on silica that is highly coated with hydrophobic alkyl chains interspersed with hydrophilic short-chain endcapping groups. The material is prepared by bonding a highly reactive octadecylsilane reagent followed by addition of a polar end-capping group. The resultant packing material contains a surface that is easily “wetted” with polar mobile phases. Standard C18 columns often suffer from “phase collapse” when used in combination with highly aqueous phases. MetaSil AQ columns remain fully extended in aqueous phases, allowing increased interaction between samples and the bonded phase.

MetaSil Basic materials are prepared by monomerically bonding a controlled mixture of several short-chain alkyl groups to the surface of highly pure silica containing “neutral” silanol groups. This unique silane blending process creates a material with exceptionally high surface coverage and excellent performance characteristics for polar and basic (amine containing) pharmaceuticals. MetaSil Basic tends to retain polar compounds better than standard phases, often showing improved retention for compounds that elute in the void volume on standard alkyl phases. MetaSil Basic columns are recommended for use at pH 2-7.5.