A new era in HPLC detection

Charged aerosol detection technology provides ten times the sensitivity of evaporative light scattering detection, with more consistent response factors than other techniques

ESA has announced what it calls a major breakthrough in HPLC technology - the Corona charged aerosol detector (Cad).

Charged aerosol detection delivers outstanding performance in all of the important criteria necessary for a universal detector.

In contrast, other detection technologies, including refractive index (RI), low wavelength (UV), evaporative light scattering (ELS), and chemiluminescent nitrogen detector (CLND) methods, have performance weaknesses that limit their usefulness as a universal HPLC detector.

Cad overcomes the shortcomings of all these other detection methods in a single platform, says ESA.

None of the other detection methods are able to match the overall performance of charged aerosol detection, it says.

The Corona Cad is said to be a genuinely new HPLC detection technology that typically provides ten times the sensitivity of ELS, more consistent response factors than LC-MS, UV, or ELS, and the gradient performance missing from RI, delivering for the first time to the HPLC market almost complete universality.

Cad represents a significant new universal detection option for HPLC that not only exceeds the capabilities of current options, but also can push the boundaries of universal detection into areas where current methods are not able to perform.

Utilisation of Cad can both increase the efficiency of existing analytical operations, and open up entirely new possibilities for bioanalytical chemistry in the future.

In charged aerosol detection, the HPLC column eluent is first nebulised with nitrogen and the droplets are dried to remove mobile phase, producing analyte particles.

A secondary stream of nitrogen becomes positively charged as it passes a high-voltage, platinum corona wire.

This charge transfers to the opposing stream of analyte particles.

The charge is transferred to a collector where it is measured by a highly sensitive electrometer, generating a signal in direct proportion to the quantity of analyte present.

ESA's Corona detector installs easily with any HPLC system and takes up minimal bench space due to its small footprint.

Set-up time is reduced as the detector requires only gas pressure and signal output range to be set.

An intuitive control panel with large, clearly labelled touch-pads and a bright LED display allows easy access to detector functions, while an extensive context-sensitive Help feature guides operators when assistance is needed, resulting in higher productivity with less training.

The Corona is highly versatile and can be easily integrated with existing instruments to analyse virtually any non- or semi-volatile compound, including drug compounds, drug scaffolds, carbohydrates, lipids, steroids, peptides, proteins and polymers in industries including pharmaceuticals, foods, consumer products, industrial chemicals and life science research.

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