Columns for USP Specifications

Merck Millipore offers a comprehensive range of high-quality HPLC columns. Among these are a wide
selection of columns that meet USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) specifications. The L nomenclature was
introduced by the USP to designate column types for high-performance liquid chromatography. To help you
select the appropriate HPLC column for your application, the table below describes various L columns as well
as the corresponding HPLC columns available from Merck Millipore.

USP

Description

Columns

L1

Octadecly silane
(ODS or C18)
chemically bonded
to porous silica or
ceramic particles,
1.5 to 10 m in
diameter

Chromolith RP-18 Endcapped

LiChrosorb RP-18 (5 m)
LiChrosorb RP-18 (10 m)
LiChrospher RP-18 (5 m)
LiChrospher RP-18 (10 m)
LiChrospher RP-18 Endcapped (5 m)
LiChrospher RP-18 Endcapped (10 m)
Purospher RP-18 (5 m)
Purospher RP-18 Endcapped (5 m)
Purospher STAR RP-18 Endcapped (3 m)
Purospher STAR RP-18 Endcapped (5 m)
Superspher RP-18 Endcapped (4 m)
Superspher RP-18 (4 m)

L3

Porous silica
particles, 1.5 to 10
m in diameter

Chromolith Si
LiChrosorb Si 60 (5 m)
LiChrospher Si 100
LiChrospher Si 60 (10 m)
LiChrospher Si 60 (5 m)
Purospher STAR Si (5 m)
Superspher Si 60 (4 m)

L7

Octyl silane (C8)

chemically bonded
to porous silica
particles, 1.5 to 10
m in diameter

Chromolith RP-8 Endcapped

LiChrosorb RP-8 (5 m)
LiChrosorb RP-8 (10 m)
LiChrospher RP-8 (5 m)
LiChrospher RP-8 (10 m)
LiChrospher RP-8 endcapped (5 m)
LiChrospher RP-Select B (5 m)
LiChrospher RP-Select B (10 m)
Purospher STAR RP-8 Endcapped (3 m)
Purospher STAR RP-8 Endcapped (5 m)
Superspher 60 RP-8 (4 m)
Superspher 60 RP-8 Endcapped (4 m)
Superspher 60 RP-Select B (4 m)

L8

An essentially
monomolecular
layer of
aminopropylsilane
(NH2) chemically
bonded to totally
porous silica gel
support, 3 to 10 m

LiChrospher NH2 (10 m)

Purospher STAR NH2 (5 m)

USP

Description

Columns

in diameter
L10

Nitrile groups (CN)

chemically bonded
to porous silica
particles, 3 to 10 m
in diameter

LiChrospher CN (10 m)
LiChrospher CN (5 m)
LiChrosorb Diol (5 m)

L20

Dihydroxypropane
groups chemically
bonded to porous
silica particles, 3 to
10 m in diameter

LiChrospher Diol (5 m)
LiChrosorb Diol (5 m)

L29

Gamma alumina,
reversed-phase, low
carbon percentage
by weight aluminabased polybutadiene
spherical particles, 5
m in diameter with
a pore diameter of
80

Aluspher RP-select B

L45

Beta cyclodextrin
bonded to porous
silica particles, 5 to
10 m in diameter

ChiraDex (5 m)