Product Overview:
The Guard Column Cartridge & Holder system is a pre-column protection solution designed to safeguard analytical HPLC columns from damage caused by particulate matter and strongly retained impurities in samples and mobile phases. Installed between the injector and the analytical column, the guard cartridge captures contaminants before they reach the expensive analytical column—without changing chromatographic selectivity, retention time, or peak shape.
The system consists of two components: a reusable stainless-steel cartridge holder and replaceable guard cartridges packed with high-purity stationary phases. When the cartridge is exhausted, only the inexpensive cartridge needs to be replaced—restoring full system performance without replacing the entire analytical column.
Key Features:
1. Effective Column Protection
The guard cartridge intercepts particulate contaminants and strongly retained compounds that increase backpressure and degrade peak quality, significantly extending the service life of the analytical column.
2. Matched Stationary Phases
Guard cartridges are packed with the same high-quality bonded phases as the corresponding analytical columns (e.g., C18, C8, Phenyl-Hexyl, EXT-C18, and more), ensuring the guard does not alter separation results.
3. Low Dead Volume Design
The holder and cartridge are precision-engineered to minimize extra-column volume. For optimal performance, the cartridge inner diameter should be equal to or smaller than that of the analytical column, preventing band broadening and preserving separation efficiency.
4. Quick and Easy Cartridge Replacement
The cartridge-style design allows fast, tool-free replacement. When column pressure rises or peak shape deteriorates, simply swap in a new cartridge—no special tools or system downtime required.
5. Economical Operation
Replacing only the cartridge instead of the entire analytical column dramatically reduces long-term consumable costs, making it a smart investment for high-throughput laboratories.
Technical Specifications:
| Parameter | Specification |
| Product Name | HPLC Guard Column Cartridge & Holder |
| Holder Material | 316 Stainless Steel (standard) |
| Holder Type | Reusable, independent-style cartridge holder |
| Compatible Column ID | 2.1 mm / 3.0 mm / 4.0 mm / 4.6 mm analytical columns |
| Cartridge Dimensions | 5 mm (length) × 2.1 mm / 4.0 mm (ID) |
| Particle Size | 2.7 µm (core-shell) / 3 µm / 5 µm options |
| Pore Size | 90 Å / 100 Å / 120 Å options |
| Available Bonded Phases | C18, C8, Phenyl-Hexyl, EXT-C18, PFP, NH₂, CN, HILIC, and more |
| Packaging | 2 cartridges per box |
| Maximum Pressure | Compatible with conventional HPLC systems |
| Connection | Standard 1/16' PEEK tubing and fittings |
Application Fields
- Pharmaceutical Analysis: Protecting columns in QC and dissolution testing workflows.
- Food & Environmental Testing: Handling complex, dirty sample matrices.
- Bioanalysis: Safeguarding columns from protein and biological contaminants.
- Chemical & Petrochemical Labs: Analyzing samples containing strongly retained impurities.
- High-Throughput Laboratories: Reducing column replacement costs in continuous operation.
