Agilent Technologies Secures Patent for Porous Shell LC Particle Manufacturing Technology

01-13-2011: Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that it was awarded a U.S. patent for the process used to apply the superficially porous shell to particles in Agilent Poroshell 120 high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns.

The patent was issued for the unique coacervation process used to manufacture the Poroshell 120 silica. The process applies the superficially porous shell to the particles in a single step, replacing a multi-layering procedure. This reduces variation between columns for more reproducible results.

Poroshell 120 columns make the high speed and high resolution of sub-two-micron separations available to users of any mainstream LC instrument, including conventional HPLC. The columns also enhance the performance of UHPLC systems, up to 600 bar, enabling chromatographers to optimize the performance of Agilent’s new 1200 Infinity Series, which offers 600-bar capabilities as a standard feature.

“This simpler process delivers real benefits to our customers because it reduces variability in the chromatography workflow,” said Helen Stimson, Agilent vice president, Global Consumables for Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis, “and that is always a good thing.”