Cation Exchange

Hamilton Cation Exchange Columns

Hamilton’s cation exchange columns are engineered for high-performance separations of positively charged analytes using strong, predictable ion-exchange interactions. In cation exchange chromatography, the stationary phase carries a negatively charged surface that selectively retains cations. The greater the positive charge of the analyte, the stronger its interaction with the stationary phase—resulting in increased retention, enhanced resolution, and improved selectivity for ionic and ionizable compounds.

Elution is precisely controlled by the aqueous mobile phase, where adjustments in pH and ionic strength fine-tune analyte interaction with the resin. Increasing ionic strength or shifting pH disrupts electrostatic attractions, enabling analytes to elute in a predictable order. These flexible elution strategies make cation exchange chromatography highly effective across environmental, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and research applications.

Because Hamilton uses robust polymeric stationary phases instead of silica, these columns tolerate aggressive mobile phases—including very high pH conditions (>11)—and withstand elevated temperatures far beyond the limits of silica-based materials. This durability allows rigorous cleaning, longer column lifetimes, and reliable performance under demanding analytical conditions.

Hamilton Cation Exchange Columns — Specifications

Hamilton PRP-X200 & PRP-X400 Columns — Cation Exchange

Hamilton PRP-X200 cation exchange HPLC columns are engineered for rapid, high-resolution separation of alkali and alkaline earth metals. Alkali metals and ammonium are fully resolved in under five minutes, while alkaline earth cations separate in less than four minutes. Because mobile phase conditions are optimized separately for each cation group, interferences between alkali and alkaline earth metals are effectively eliminated.

Hamilton PRP-X400 columns are optimized for fast and reliable separation of glyphosate and its metabolites. With a higher exchange capacity than PRP-X200, PRP-X400 provides improved selectivity for glyphosate and performs well in related hydrophilic separations such as inositol and sugar alcohols. These columns operate efficiently at room temperature, do not require column heating, and do not require methanol in the mobile phase—offering a cost-effective alternative to many glyphosate-specific columns.

Hamilton PRP-X800 Columns — Cation Exchange

Hamilton PRP-X800 is a polymeric cation exchange HPLC column functionalized with itaconic acid, designed for efficient isocratic separation of mono- and divalent cations. Typical targets include lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, with excellent resolution and reproducibility.

The PRP-X800 column offers outstanding durability and is stable in any concentration of organic solvent, allowing flexible mobile phase design and dynamic control of exchange capacity. Detection is typically performed using conductivity or indirect UV, depending on mobile phase composition, making PRP-X800 well suited for routine and advanced inorganic cation analysis.

Hamilton HC-40 Ca²⁺ and HC-75 (H⁺, Ca²⁺, Pb²⁺) Columns — Cation Exchange

Hamilton HC-40 columns separate compounds primarily through size exclusion. The 4% cross-linked HC-40 resin allows larger carbohydrate oligomers to elute first, followed by smaller di- and monosaccharides, making it well suited for carbohydrate profiling applications.

Hamilton HC-75 columns use ligand exchange as the primary separation mechanism. The 8% cross-linked HC-75 resin is available in multiple ionic forms (H⁺, Ca²⁺, Pb²⁺), each offering unique selectivity based on analyte electronegativity toward the counterion. As with HC-40, larger carbohydrate oligomers elute first, followed by smaller saccharides.

These columns are widely used for carbohydrate, sugar alcohol, and organic acid analysis in food, beverage, and fermentation workflows, where robust selectivity and reproducible retention are critical.