Rtx-Wax

Rtx-Wax column

Restek Rtx-Wax GC Columns

Restek Rtx-Wax GC columns are highly polar polyethylene glycol (PEG) columns designed for efficient separation of oxygenated compounds, including alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, organic acids, glycols, and flavor/fragrance components. With strong hydrogen-bonding and dipole–dipole interaction capabilities, Rtx-Wax delivers the selectivity needed to resolve complex mixtures commonly encountered in food and beverage testing, environmental monitoring, and industrial process analysis.

Engineered for excellent inertness and thermal stability, Rtx-Wax columns produce sharp, symmetrical peaks for highly polar analytes that often suffer from adsorption on lower-quality PEG phases. Their low bleed profile and robust bonding chemistry support high-sensitivity GC-FID and GC-MS workflows, while maintaining consistent performance during repeated temperature cycling.

Rtx-Wax is frequently selected for flavor and fragrance profiling, alcohol analysis in fermentation processes, VOC characterization, and compliance-driven testing in manufacturing and environmental labs. The columns offer dependable retention stability and reproducibility across batches, supporting validated methods and long-term analytical reliability.

As an authorized Restek distributor, Chrom Tech provides Rtx-Wax columns in multiple dimensions to support laboratories requiring a stable, highly polar PEG phase with proven performance for oxygenated and polar compound separations.
Key Definitions ▸
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
A highly polar stationary phase widely used for separating oxygenated and hydrophilic compounds, enabling strong interactions based on hydrogen bonding and dipole effects.
Oxygenated Compound Selectivity
The ability of a PEG column to preferentially separate alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, and other oxygenated analytes commonly encountered in food, fragrance, and environmental samples.
Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions
Strong interactions between polar analytes and the stationary phase that enhance separation efficiency for highly functionalized or reactive compounds.
Flavor & Fragrance Profiling
Analytical workflows that rely on PEG columns for resolving volatile and semi-volatile aroma compounds that are important for sensory quality and regulatory compliance.
High-Polarity Phase Stability
The engineered thermal and chemical stability of Rtx-Wax columns that prevents excessive bleed and phase degradation during repeated heating cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions ▸
What types of compounds are best analyzed using Rtx-Wax columns?
Rtx-Wax is ideal for oxygenated compounds—alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, organic acids, glycols, and flavor/fragrance components—due to its strong polarity and hydrogen-bonding selectivity.
Are Rtx-Wax columns suitable for GC-MS workflows?
Yes. Their low bleed and strong inertness support MS detection, although PEG columns are used most commonly with GC-FID for quantitative work.
What makes Rtx-Wax better than standard PEG columns?
Rtx-Wax offers improved inertness, lower bleed, and greater thermal stability, resulting in sharper peaks and longer column lifetime—even for highly polar compounds.
Are Rtx-Wax columns recommended for regulatory flavor and fragrance testing?
Yes. Their ability to resolve complex oxygenated volatiles makes them ideal for regulatory, authenticity, and QC testing in food, beverage, and fragrance industries.