Ascentis Express RP-Amide provides improved selectivity for polar compounds ST. LOUIS, Sept. 3 — Supelco, a division of Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL – News), has expanded the Ascentis Express product line (http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/express), a family of innovative HPLC columns designed to provide the analysis speed and resolving power of sub-2-micron columns with a 50% reduction in backpressure. Ascentis Express RP-Amide, an embedded polar group chemistry, provides an alternate selectivity to the conventional C18 and C8 phases. “The combination of the RP-Amide advanced bonding chemistry and the Fused-Core(TM) particle provides a polar column for high-speed and high-resolution separations,” said Wayne K. Way, Marketing Manager at Supelco in Bellefonte, PA. “The Ascentis Express RP-Amide provides improved peak shape for basic compounds.” The key technology in the Ascentis Express column is the Fused-Core particle. These high-purity silica particles measure 2.7 microns overall, with a 0.5 micron-thick porous shell. Relative to columns using conventional sub-2-micron particles, Ascentis Express columns generate comparable efficiencies but with half the backpressure. Supelco’s offering of HPLC products is one part of Sigma-Aldrich’s technological and value-driven products that, combined with our services and support, provide complete analytical applications solutions. About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Our biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. We have customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use our products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 36 countries and has 8,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit our award-winning website at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com. *Fused-Core is a trademark of Advanced Materials Technology. Sigma-Aldrich, Supelco and Ascentis are registered trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology LP and Sigma-Aldrich Co.