ST. LOUIS, — Sigma-Aldrich® Corporation (NASDAQ:SIAL) announced today its Supelco® brand launched the Ascentis® Express C18, 5 micron particle size column to improve speed and increase efficiencies in high purity liquid chomatography (HPLC) procedures. The new columns are based on innovative Fused-Core® particle technology, which enables the production of columns capable of achieving greater speed and efficiencies than conventional 5 micron particle columns. The Ascentis Express family provides scientists a premier choice for performance improvement on traditional HPLC systems and eliminates the concerns associated with smaller particle columns.

The new columns deliver the speed and resolving power of conventional 3 micron particle columns, as well as provide greater ruggedness and a longer life cycle than columns using sub 2 micron particles. Operating back pressures of the new column family are comparable to columns using 5 micron particles, ensuring pressure limits are not exceeded in conventional HPLC instrumentation. The Ascentis Express line is scalable from ultra high purity liquid chromatography (UHPLC) to legacy HPLC systems.

“Supelco’s latest extension to the Ascentis Express line allows scientists to boost the performance of legacy HPLC systems and effortlessly transfer methods amongst sites or contract research organizations (CRO) without incompatibility concerns,” said Dr. Wayne Way, HPLC/GC Market Segment Manager, Supelco. “These columns are expected to be extremely beneficial for bioanalytical LC/MS as they excel at the high flow rates and high throughput demands of these methods. Furthermore, the large particle format provides an extremely rugged HPLC column,” concludes Dr. Way.

Available in introductory phases C18 and F5, the conversion of current methods is simple. Conventional HPLC users can simply “drop-in” the replacement column without changing column dimensions, flow rates or sample prep.

A new HPLC method transfer calculator ‘App’ has also been launched on the Sigma-Aldrich website at https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/hplccalculator. This App makes it easy to switch columns and change methods by calculating conditions for transfer of an isocratic or gradient method from one HPLC column to another. It also enables easy method scaling from microbore through preparative column dimensions, including time and solvent savings calculations. The App is available for iPad®, iPhone® and Android™ mobile devices.

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company whose biochemical and organic chemical products, kits and services are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich customers include over a million scientists and technologists in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals and in industry. The Company operates in 35 countries and has nearly 9,000 employees whose objective is to provide excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to accelerating our Customers’ success through leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information visit our award winning web site at https://www.sigma-aldrich.com.

Sigma-Aldrich and Supelco are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC registered in the US and other countries. Ascentis is a registered trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Fused-Core is a registered trademark of Advanced Materials Technology, Inc. Supelco brand products are sold through Sigma-Aldrich, Inc. iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the US and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc.