Waters HPLC & UPLC Columns (BEH, CSH, CORTECS, Atlantis)

Waters columns cover reversed-phase, HILIC, SEC/IEX, and SFC workflows across HPLC and UPLC systems. This collection page helps you quickly narrow to the right chemistry, particle size, pore size, and dimensions, then compare representative SKUs (with official Waters catalog numbers) and request a quote from Iright.

Waters Column Families at a Glance (BEH, CORTECS, Atlantis…)

Waters offers several well-known families that balance selectivity, robustness, and transferability:

ACQUITY UPLC BEH — Hybrid BEH particles (e.g., BEH C18) provide wide usable pH and low bleed for MS; a common starting point for method development and high-throughput assays.

ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 — Silica-based, T3 bonding enhances retention of polar analytes while maintaining reversed-phase selectivity; widely used for polar compounds and peptides.

CORTECS (solid-core) — High-efficiency, low-backpressure performance on 1.6 µm solid-core particles; suitable for fast analyses and routine QC. “Premier” versions use inert surfaces to minimize metal interactions.

Atlantis (HILIC & BEH Amide) — Designed for polar metabolites, sugars, and very hydrophilic analytes with robust HILIC retention.

Protein BEH SEC/Protein-Pak — SEC for protein size variants and aggregation; complementary IEX options for charge variants. Premier SEC couples MaxPeak surfaces with BEH-PEO particles for reliable protein separations.

XTerra / Symmetry (HPLC) — Durable, general-purpose HPLC phases; XTerra uses hybrid particles for broader pH tolerance; Symmetry remains a reproducible workhorse for legacy and QC methods.

Torus / Trefoil (SFC & chiral) — Achiral (Torus) and chiral (Trefoil) SFC columns for rapid screening and challenging isomer separations, with convenient kits for method development.

How to Choose a Waters HPLC/UPLC Column

Start from your analyte and technique, then tune selectivity and hardware:

1. Technique & matrix — UPLC for speed and resolution (sub-2 µm particles); HPLC for broader compatibility and lower pressure; SFC for chiral/achiral speedups and greener solvent use.

2. Selectivity —

• General reversed-phase: BEH C18 / CORTECS C18
• Polar analytes: HSS T3 or Atlantis HILIC/BEH Amide
• Proteins/peptides: Protein BEH SEC / Protein-Pak (SEC/IEX), Protein BEH C4/C18
• Chiral/structural isomers: Trefoil / Torus (SFC).
  

3. Geometry & media — Match particle size (e.g., 1.7–1.8 µm UPLC vs. 3.5–5 µm HPLC), pore size (100–130 Å for small molecules; 250–300 Å for proteins/peptides), ID × length (2.1 mm for MS efficiency; 4.6 mm for UV and robustness). Use a guard where samples are complex.

Waters Column Comparison & Recommendations

To help you move faster, here are practical pairings based on common tasks:

• Small-molecule impurity & potency (RP) → Start with BEH C18 for broad selectivity; prefer CORTECS C18 when you need faster runs at comparable resolution.
  
• Polar APIs/metabolites (RP with polar retention) → HSS T3 improves early retention and peak shape for polar analytes; consider Atlantis HILIC for very hydrophilic compounds.
  
• Proteins/biologics → Protein BEH SEC for aggregates/size variants; Protein-Pak SEC for broader MW ranges; Protein BEH C4 for intact proteins by RP.
  
• Chiral/isomer resolution → Trefoil (AMY1/CEL1/CEL2) for chiral; Torus (2-PIC/DEA/Diol/1-AA) for achiral SFC screening and rapid optimization.

Featured Waters Columns: Models, Specs & Catalog Numbers

Below are representative, high-demand configurations across families.

Method Transfer & Equivalent Dimensions (HPLC ↔ UPLC)

When moving from 5 µm HPLC to sub-2 µm UPLC (or vice versa), keep linear velocity similar and control extra-column volume:

Scale length & ID: A common equivalence is 4.6 × 150 mm (5 µm) ≈ 2.1 × 50–100 mm (1.7–1.8 µm) depending on resolution needs; reduce injection volume proportionally to ID² and capillaries to minimize band broadening.

Backpressure rises with smaller particles; verify your instrument’s pressure limit and minimize connection dead volume for best UPLC performance.

SFC transfers: Torus/Trefoil kits accelerate achiral/chiral screening with standard column sets and dimensions, easing migration from normal-phase to SFC methods.

Accessories & Consumables: VanGuard Guards, Frits & Vials

Guarding protects resolution and extends column life, especially with complex matrices:

VanGuard pre-columns / FIT: Use matched chemistry, ID, and particle size; e.g., BEH C18 2.1 × 5 mm, 1.7 µm or HSS T3 2.1 × 5 mm, 1.8 µm. “Premier” FIT integrates column + guard to preserve efficiency.

Sample cleanup & filtration: Reduce fouling with appropriate SPE and 0.2 µm filtration; use low-adsorption vials for peptides/proteins. (General best practice; pair with your lab SOPs.)

Applications & Tips for Small Molecules, Peptides/Proteins, HILIC & SFC

Impurities, stability & potency (RP) — Begin on BEH C18; if polar impurities tail or elute too early, test HSS T3 or PFP/phenyl alternatives. CORTECS helps shorten gradients without sacrificing resolution.

Polar metabolites & sugars (HILIC) — Choose Atlantis HILIC or BEH Amide; equilibrate thoroughly and keep high acetonitrile content to stabilize retention.

Proteins & mAbs — Use Protein BEH SEC / ACQUITY Premier Protein SEC for aggregates and size variants; combine with RP Protein BEH C4 for intact mass analysis and peptide maps downstream.

Chiral quality control (SFC) — Screen with Trefoil (AMY1/CEL1/CEL2) and Torus chemistries; the pre-defined kits streamline column selection and shorten run times dramatically.

Waters Columns FAQs 

Q1. What’s the practical difference between BEH C18 and HSS T3?

A. BEH C18 (hybrid particle) is a universal RP starting point with wide pH tolerance and low bleed, while HSS T3 (silica/T3 bonding) increases retention of polar analytes under RP conditions—useful when early-eluting peaks need better resolution.

Q2. When should I pick HILIC (Atlantis/BEH Amide) instead of RP?

A. If your targets are too hydrophilic to retain on RP (e.g., sugars, very polar metabolites), HILIC provides orthogonal selectivity and stronger retention; Atlantis HILIC SKUs cover common 2.1 mm and 4.6 mm formats.

Q3. Which columns are recommended for protein aggregation or size variants?

A. ACQUITY Premier Protein SEC (250 Å, 1.7 µm) gives reliable size-variant separations on LC/MS-friendly hardware; Protein-Pak SEC (300 Å, 10 µm) covers broader MW ranges and legacy systems.

Q4. Do I need a guard column?

A. For complex matrices or long sequences of injections, yes. Use matched VanGuard cartridges (same chemistry/ID/particle) or FIT configurations; Waters documents exact pairings for popular SKUs like 186002350.

Get a Quote from Iright for Waters Columns

Tell us your analyte(s), mobile phase/pH, instrument (HPLC/UPLC/SFC), and preferred ID × length. We’ll shortlist in-stock or fastest-lead-time SKUs, suggest guard options, and—if needed—provide a quick HPLC ↔ UPLC transfer recipe tailored to your method.