If there was a method for the packing material manufacturer to specify shape characteristics and for column manufacturers to inspect incoming materials against those specifications, manufacturing HPLC columns would become more predictable, less costly and exhibit consistent performance. Recent advancements in image analysis could provide the answer.
The analytical technique used in the following experiment is dynamic image analysis. With image analysis, images are captured and analyzed as particles pass through a detection zone. ISO 13322-2 is used as the guideline for all dynamic image analysis instruments available on the market today. The key benefit of using image analysis for HPLC column packing materials is to enable the identification and quantification of the different particle shapes present in incoming materials.