Waters Sample Preparation: SPE, Syringe Filters & QuEChERS

Cleaner samples mean clearer data. This collection brings together Waters consumables you rely on to remove particulates, proteins and phospholipids, salts, and other matrix interferences before LC/UPLC or LC-MS/MS. From Oasis HLB and PRiME HLB SPE to Sep-Pak, Ostro plates, syringe filters, and DisQuE QuEChERS kits, you can build a consistent, validated workflow end-to-end

What This Collection Covers: Waters SPE, Syringe Filters & QuEChERS

You need a single place to choose the right mechanism—sorbent-based extraction, pass-through cleanup, or filtration—and the format that fits your throughput. This page covers Oasis/PRiME HLB and Sep-Pak SPE, Ostro phospholipid-removal plates, syringe and solvent filters, and DisQuE QuEChERS kits for regulated and research labs.

Included families

• Solid Phase Extraction (SPE): Oasis HLB & Oasis PRiME HLB cartridges/plates for robust reversed-phase cleanup and enrichment (PRiME HLB removes >95% common matrix interferences and needs no conditioning).
  

• Sep-Pak C18: silica-based bonded phase cartridges for hydrophobic analytes across environmental and bioanalytical matrices.
  

• Ostro 96-well plate: pass-through protein precipitation + phospholipid removal for plasma/serum to reduce ion suppression.
  

• Syringe filters: 0.2–0.45 µm, multiple chemistries for sample/mobile-phase filtration.
  
• DisQuE QuEChERS kits: AOAC/CEN pouch-format extraction and dSPE cleanup for multi-residue food testing.

Key Applications & Outcomes for LC/UPLC & LC-MS Workflows

Applications differ by matrix load and sensitivity goals, so your cleanup should, too. The items below map common scenarios to measurable outcomes—higher signal-to-noise, lower backpressure, steadier retention times, and fewer unplanned maintenance stops.

Clinical/PK bioanalysis: Ostro plate streamlines protein crash and phospholipid removal—improving LC-MS reproducibility and minimizing ion suppression. (Use acetonitrile as the crash solvent for optimal flow-through.)

Food safety screening: DisQuE AOAC kits standardize QuEChERS salts and dSPE, improving day-to-day repeatability across analysts and batches.

Environmental trace organics: Oasis/PRiME HLB SPE concentrates analytes and delivers clean extracts; PRiME HLB shortens steps by eliminating conditioning/equilibration.

System protection & uptime: 0.2–0.45 µm syringe filters prevent injector/column fouling and stabilize pressure traces; nylon is versatile but avoid it for protein recovery.

Product Categories: Oasis/PRiME HLB, Sep-Pak, Ostro & Filters

Choosing by mechanism first, then format, keeps methods consistent when matrices change. Start with what you need to remove (particulates, proteins/PLs, salts) and how much you need to recover or concentrate, then select the pack size that fits throughput.

• Oasis HLB SPE (cartridges, 96-well, µElution): water-wettable polymer for acidic, basic, and neutral compounds; µElution enables low-volume elution and up to ~15× enrichment without evaporation.
  
• Oasis PRiME HLB SPE: fastest three-step cleanup; removes >95% protein/PL/salt interferences; no conditioning required.
  
• Sep-Pak C18 SPE: silica C18 bonded phase in multiple barrel sizes for general reversed-phase extraction.
• Ostro Protein Precipitation & Phospholipid Removal Plate: plasma/serum pass-through cleanup with high recovery and high throughput.
  
• Syringe & Solvent Filters: 13–25 mm housings, 0.2/0.45 µm pore sizes for sample and mobile phase; select membrane by solvent and analyte.
  
• DisQuE QuEChERS Kits (AOAC/CEN): pouch salts and dSPE tubes that follow official methods for robust pesticide residue prep.

Selection Guide: Match Matrix to SPE, QuEChERS or Filtration

Use this quick guide to move from matrix and goal to mechanism and format. Adjust sorbent mass or plate type based on sample volume and desired concentration factor.

How to Choose Filter Membranes (PTFE, Nylon, PVDF, PES)

Membrane chemistry drives solvent compatibility, protein binding, and extractables. Confirm your mobile-phase composition and analyte class first, then choose pore size and diameter for your injection volume and detector sensitivity.

• Nylon (hydrophilic): compatible with many aqueous/organic blends; a practical generalist. Avoid for protein recovery due to higher protein binding.

• PTFE: broadly resistant to strong organics and corrosive solvents; useful for aggressive mobile phases (choose hydrophilic-treated PTFE for high-water samples).

• PVDF: low protein binding for peptide/protein-containing matrices and biological diluents.

• PES: low extractables in aqueous buffers; a reliable choice before LC-MS when minimizing background is critical.

Tip: Prefer 0.2 µm before LC-MS and 0.45 µm for routine HPLC to balance protection and backpressure.

Featured Models & Specifications: Oasis HLB, Sep-Pak, Ostro

The examples below are among the most-used SKUs in bioanalysis, food, and environmental labs. Always verify the sorbent mass, particle size, and well/barrel format against your validated method before ordering.

Compatibility & Methods: LC/UPLC, LC-MS/MS & Solvent Guidance

Method fidelity depends on aligning cleanup steps with chromatography. Keep solvent strength and pH consistent with the validated method, match sorbent mass to load, and respect plate/cartridge flow limits to maintain recovery and reproducibility.

• PRiME HLB simplifies routine cleanup: load pre-treated sample → wash (e.g., 5% MeOH) → elute (e.g., 90:10 ACN:MeOH). No condition/equilibration needed, which shortens runtime and reduces solvent.

• Ostro flow-through: protein crash with acetonitrile ensures solid precipitate and efficient flow; each well handles up to ~1.4 mL liquid + sample.

• µElution plates (Oasis HLB): elute in 25 µL to boost sensitivity without dry-down; ideal when sample volume is limited or throughput is high.

• Syringe filters: choose pore size by detector sensitivity (0.2 µm for LC-MS, 0.45 µm for HPLC) and membrane by solvent/analyte; nylon is a good generalist but avoid for protein recovery.

FAQs: SPE Cartridges, QuEChERS Kits & Syringe Filters

A few quick answers help you finalize selection and set expectations around recovery, throughput, and robustness. For method-specific advice, reach out to our team.

Q1. When should I choose PRiME HLB instead of standard HLB?
When you want faster processing and cleaner extracts in routine samples. Oasis PRiME HLB eliminates conditioning/equilibration and removes >95% proteins, phospholipids, and salts, while maintaining recoveries.

Q2. Can I load ACN-dissolved samples onto the Ostro plate?
Yes. Waters confirms 100% acetonitrile is acceptable on Ostro 186005518; ACN also produces a solid precipitate that flows efficiently.

Q3. What pore size should I use before LC-MS?
Use 0.2 µm when feeding LC-MS to minimize background and protect the system; 0.45 µm is common for routine HPLC. For general aqueous/organic blends, nylon is convenient but avoid for protein recovery.

Q4. What’s special about Oasis HLB µElution plates for low volumes?
Each well contains 2 mg sorbent and enables ~25 µL elution volumes, concentrating analytes without evaporation and reconstitution steps.

Request a Quote or Expert Support

Ready to tune your sample prep for cleaner baselines and tighter QC? Contact Iright now and tell us your matrix, target analytes, and detection platform. We’ll help you select the right mix of Oasis/PRiME HLB, Sep-Pak, Ostro, syringe filters, and DisQuE QuEChERS kits, align formats to your throughput, and provide a formal quote with lead times and documentation.