DB-5ms Ultra Inert

DB-5ms Ultra Inert

Agilent DB-5ms Ultra Inert GC Column

Similar Phases: Rtx-5ms, Rxi-5ms, Rxi-5Sil MS, VF-5ms, PTE-5, BPX-5, AT-5ms, ZB-5ms, ZB-5MSi, SLB-5ms, Equity-5

Agilent J&W DB-5ms Ultra Inert is a high-performance non-polar GC column engineered for exceptional inertness, low bleed, and superior reproducibility in GC/MS applications. Built on a phenyl arylene polymer backbone and chemically similar to a (5%-phenyl)-methylpolysiloxane phase, this column delivers consistent retention behavior, strong thermal stability, and broad applicability for volatile and semi-volatile analytes.

Each DB-5ms Ultra Inert column undergoes Agilent’s most advanced UI deactivation process, ensuring minimal active sites and outstanding peak shapes for challenging compounds such as phenols, amines, pesticides, PAHs, and other reactive analytes. Combined with its exceptionally low bleed, the DB-5ms UI delivers cleaner baselines, higher signal-to-noise ratios, and enhanced mass spectral integrity—critical advantages for trace-level work and high-sensitivity MS detection.

DB-5ms Ultra Inert is also considered a close equivalent to USP Phase G27, making it a reliable choice for validated or regulatory methods that require 5%-phenyl selectivity. Its rugged bonded-and-cross-linked construction supports high-temperature operation and solvent rinsing, ensuring long-term durability even under demanding analytical conditions.

Key Definitions â–¸
Ultra Inert (UI) Deactivation
Agilent’s highest-performance deactivation treatment, designed to eliminate active sites within the GC column. UI technology enhances analyte recovery, minimizes adsorption, and produces sharp, symmetrical peaks for sensitive or reactive compounds.
Phenyl Arylene Polymer
A thermally stable stationary-phase backbone used in DB-5ms columns. This polymer structure provides enhanced oxidative resistance and consistent retention characteristics, allowing robust performance at elevated temperatures.
(5%-Phenyl)-Methylpolysiloxane
A widely used non-polar GC stationary phase containing 5% phenyl functional groups. This chemistry provides predictable selectivity and broad analyte compatibility for volatile and semi-volatile compound analysis.
USP Phase G27
A pharmacopeia-defined GC stationary phase category equivalent to 5% phenyl methylpolysiloxane. DB-5ms UI aligns closely with G27, supporting validated and regulatory workflows requiring this selectivity class.
Mass Spectral Integrity
The degree to which mass spectra remain clean, accurate, and free from contamination caused by column bleed or chemical background. Ultra low bleed in DB-5ms UI columns preserves spectral purity and enables confident compound identification at low levels.
Frequently Asked Questions â–¸
What advantages does the Ultra Inert (UI) version of DB-5ms provide?
DB-5ms Ultra Inert columns undergo Agilent’s highest-level deactivation, significantly reducing active sites that cause adsorption and peak distortion. This improves analyte recovery, enhances signal-to-noise ratios, and ensures cleaner mass spectra for GC/MS applications.
How does DB-5ms UI compare to standard DB-5ms columns?
Both columns share the same non-polar (5%-phenyl) methylpolysiloxane selectivity, but the UI version offers superior inertness and lower bleed. This results in better peak symmetry, greater sensitivity, and improved mass spectral integrity—especially for active or trace-level analytes.
What types of applications are best suited for DB-5ms Ultra Inert columns?
DB-5ms UI is ideal for environmental analyses, forensic toxicology, pharmaceutical impurity testing, food and fragrance profiling, petrochemical screening, and any GC/MS workflow that requires maximum sensitivity, low bleed, and excellent inertness for reactive analytes.
Is DB-5ms Ultra Inert suitable for regulated or validated methods?
Yes. The DB-5ms UI is a close equivalent to USP Phase G27, making it appropriate for regulated workflows requiring this stationary phase class while also delivering enhanced low-bleed performance for GC/MS detection.
Can the DB-5ms Ultra Inert column be solvent-rinsed?
Yes. The bonded and cross-linked design allows solvent rinsing to remove non-volatile residues and extend column lifetime, which is especially beneficial in dirty or complex sample matrices.