Polaris

Agilent Polaris HPLC Columns

Agilent Polaris HPLC columns are engineered specifically for high-aqueous reversed-phase separations—an essential requirement as modern drug discovery and biochemical workflows continue to shift toward increasingly polar analytes. Built on ultra-pure Type B silica with advanced silanol shielding and high-density bonding, Polaris columns deliver exceptional peak shape, stable retention, and reliable performance even under demanding low-organic conditions.

The Polaris family offers multiple polar-modified chemistries to provide enhanced retention, reduced secondary interactions, and improved selectivity for challenging polar compounds:

  • Polaris C18-A — The flagship starting point when polar-modified selectivity is needed. Designed to prevent poor peak shape and phase collapse in high-aqueous mobile phases.
  • Polaris C8-A — Offers lower hydrophobicity and alternate selectivity for polar samples, delivering faster run times and excellent peak shape.
  • Polaris C18-Ether — Enhanced retention for polar analytes and improved separation away from the void volume; ideal for compounds inadequately resolved on standard C18.
  • Polaris C8-Ether — Provides unique selectivity for hydrogen-bonding analytes and challenging compound classes.
  • Polaris Amide C18 — Embedded amide functionality introduces subtle but valuable selectivity differences without the steric protection seen in conventional embedded-group phases.

From collapse-resistant pore structures to wettability-enhanced bonded phases, every aspect of the Polaris design supports robust performance in high-aqueous environments. The result is stable retention, reproducible chromatography, and superior peak shape across a wide range of polar compounds—making Polaris a trusted solution for pharmaceutical, environmental, food, and metabolomics applications requiring dependable reversed-phase separations under low-organic conditions.

For assistance selecting the right Polaris column for your workflow, contact Chrom Tech or speak with our technical support specialists.

Agilent Polaris HPLC Columns — Phase Descriptions ▸
Polaris Amide-C18
Fully porous • 100 Å • 70 °C • pH 2.0–8.0 • Polar-embedded • USP L1
▸

Polaris Amide-C18 incorporates a polar amide group within a C18 ligand, stabilizing highly aqueous mobile phases and improving peak symmetry for polar and basic analytes.

When to Choose This Phase
  • 100% aqueous or very high water mobile phases
  • Improved retention of polar analytes in RP mode
  • Better peak shape for basic compounds
Key Specifications
Separation ModeReversed phase (polar-embedded)
Particle TypeFully porous silica
Pore Size100 Å
Temperature Limit70 °C
pH Range2.0 – 8.0
USP DesignationL1
Polaris C18-A
Fully porous • 100 Å • 70 °C • pH 2.0–8.0 • Endcapped • USP L1
▸

Polaris C18-A is a high-purity, endcapped C18 phase delivering predictable reversed-phase retention, strong reproducibility, and excellent compatibility with pharmaceutical QC workflows.

Key Specifications
Separation ModeReversed phase
Particle TypeFully porous silica
Pore Size100 Å
Temperature Limit70 °C
pH Range2.0 – 8.0
EndcappedYes
USP DesignationL1
Polaris C8-A
Fully porous • 100 Å • 70 °C • pH 2.0–8.0 • USP L7
▸

Polaris C8-A reduces hydrophobic retention relative to C18, improving run times and enabling efficient separation of moderately nonpolar compounds.

Key Specifications
Separation ModeReversed phase
Particle TypeFully porous silica
Pore Size100 Å
Temperature Limit70 °C
pH Range2.0 – 8.0
USP DesignationL7
Polaris NH2
Fully porous • 100 Å • 50 °C • Normal-phase / HILIC • USP L8
▸

Polaris NH2 is used for carbohydrate analysis and polar separations, supporting normal-phase, weak anion-exchange, and HILIC conditions.

Key Specifications
Separation ModeNormal phase / HILIC
Particle TypeFully porous silica
Pore Size100 Å
Temperature Limit50 °C
USP DesignationL8
Polaris Si-A
Fully porous • 100 Å • 50 °C • Normal phase • USP L3
▸

Polaris Si-A is a bare silica column optimized for normal-phase chromatography, adsorption separations, and lipid analysis.

Key Specifications
Separation ModeNormal phase
Particle TypeFully porous silica
Pore Size100 Å
Temperature Limit50 °C
USP DesignationL3

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SKU Name LC Column Phase Particle Size Inner Diameter (ID) Length
SKU
A2003250X212
Name
A2003250X212 - Polaris Si-A 5u 250 x 21.2mm
LC Column Phase
Si-A
Particle Size
5 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
21.2 mm
Length
250 mm
SKU
A2000050X020
Name
A2000050X020 - Polaris 5 C18-A 50 x 2.0mm
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
5 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
2 mm
Length
50 mm
SKU
A2003250X046
Name
A2003250X046 - Polaris 5 Si 250 x 4.6mm
LC Column Phase
Particle Size
10 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
Length
250 mm
SKU
A2003250X040
Name
A2003250X040 - Polaris 5 Si 250 x 4.0mm
LC Column Phase
Particle Size
5 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
Length
250 mm
SKU
A2001030X046
Name
A2001030X046 - Polaris 3 C18-A 30 x 4.6mm
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
3 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
4.6 mm
Length
30 mm
SKU
A2000030X046
Name
A2000030X046 - Polaris 5 C18-A 30 x 4.6mm
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
5 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
4.6 mm
Length
30 mm
SKU
A2001030X030
Name
A2001030X030 - Polaris 3 C18-A 30 x 3.0mm
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
3 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
3 mm
Length
30 mm
SKU
A2001030X020
Name
A2001030X020 - Polaris 3 C18-A 30 x 2.0mm
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
3 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
2 mm
Length
30 mm
SKU
A2000030X020
Name
A2000030X020 - Polaris 5 C18-A 30 x 2.0mm
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
5 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
2 mm
Length
30 mm
SKU
A2001020X020
Name
A2001020X020 - Polaris 3 C18-A 20 x 2.0mm
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
3 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
2 mm
Length
20 mm
SKU
A2000020X020
Name
A2000020X020 - Polaris 5 C18-A 20 x 2.0mm
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
5 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
2 mm
Length
20 mm
SKU
A2000MG2
Name
A2000MG2 - MetaGuard 2.0mm Polaris 5 C18-A
LC Column Phase
C18-A
Particle Size
5 um
Inner Diameter (ID)
2 mm
Length
Key Definitions ▸
Polar-Embedded Reversed-Phase (EPG)
A bonded-phase design that includes a polar functional group within the ligand. This helps shield residual silanols, improves peak shape for basic analytes, and can increase retention of polar compounds compared with standard C18 phases.
Aqueous Compatibility
The ability of a reversed-phase column to maintain stable retention and avoid “phase collapse” in very high-water mobile phases (including near-100% aqueous conditions), supporting reliable retention of early-eluting polar analytes.
Silanol Shielding
Stationary-phase strategies (dense bonding, endcapping, or polar-embedded groups) that reduce secondary interactions between basic analytes and silica silanols—improving peak symmetry and minimizing tailing.
Alternative Selectivity
A retention and resolution profile that differs from traditional C18/C8 phases, often improving separations for polar, aromatic, or hydrogen-bonding compounds and helping resolve coelutions without changing instrument conditions.
High-Purity Type B Silica
Low-metal, high-purity silica that reduces unwanted adsorption and improves reproducibility—especially important for basic compounds, LC/MS workflows, and methods where peak shape and retention stability are critical.
Frequently Asked Questions ▸
What makes Agilent Polaris columns ideal for highly aqueous mobile phases?
Polaris columns use polar-modified bonding and high-purity silica to maintain retention under near-100% aqueous conditions. This minimizes phase collapse, improves wetting, and stabilizes retention for early-eluting polar analytes compared to traditional reversed-phase columns.
Which Polaris phase should I choose for polar or early-eluting analytes?
Polaris C18-A and C18-Ether increase retention for polar compounds, while Polaris C8-A offers faster elution for highly polar samples. Polaris Amide C18 introduces alternative selectivity for analytes influenced by hydrogen bonding.
Are Polaris columns suitable for drug discovery and modern polar compound libraries?
Yes. Polaris phases are engineered for highly polar discovery compounds, delivering strong aqueous retention, controlled silanol activity, and consistent peak shape—well suited for pharmaceutical method development and high-throughput screening workflows.