UHPLC

Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) is a type of liquid chromatography that employs columns packed with small, sub-2 micrometer particles and operating pressures well above those typical of conventional HPLC. By reducing particle size and operating pressure, UHPLC increases separation efficiency, allowing faster analyses with higher peak capacity and improved resolution.

UHPLC systems use high-pressure binary or quaternary pumps, robust fittings, and short or narrow-bore columns. The high backpressure—often up to around 15,000 psi (approximately 1,000 bar)—requires specially designed hardware and column chemistries that tolerate sustained pressure. UHPLC is commonly used with gradient elution and a variety of detectors, including UV/Vis, fluorescence, and mass spectrometry; MS is particularly common due to the increased sensitivity.

Applications include pharmaceutical development and quality control, environmental testing, food safety, and metabolomics. Advantages include shorter run times and higher resolution; limitations include higher instrument and solvent costs, more demanding maintenance, potential compatibility issues with older HPLC equipment, and more stringent method development to manage backpressure, thermostability, and column lifetime.