New GC Column Set for Chlorinated Pesticides Runs Seven EPA Methods

Phenomenex Inc. (USA), a global leader in the research and manufacture of advanced technologies for the separation sciences, introduces Zebron ZB-CLPesticides-1 and 2 for dual-column pesticide testing by GC/ECD (electron capture detection). This column set saves time and money for chlorinated pesticide testing commonly performed by environmental and drinking water testing labs, which often need to run up to seven EPA methods on a single instrument. To carry out this testing, labs typically need to perform multiple, time-consuming column changes which negatively impacts productivity. The Zebron ZB-CLPesticides GC column set, which contains two phases with orthogonal selectivities specifically optimized for pesticide analysis, runs all seven methods. These new columns expand the Phenomenex Zebron family of products for GC pesticide testing, which also includes ZB-SemiVolatiles and ZB-MultiResidue-1 and 2.

“Today’s pesticide testing labs are driven to deliver precise results faster but with less resources,” explains Kristen Parnell, brand manager for GC products at Phenomenex. “ZB-CLPesticides columns allow chemists to save time and gain flexibility by running multiple pesticide classes on one GC/ECD instrument, on one column pair, as opposed to traditional setups that require time-consuming and costly column switches per method.”

Zebron ZB-CLPesticides-1 and 2 columns also offer a direct, drop-in alternative to Restek chlorinated pesticides columns. The columns are available individually or packaged in a kit, which also contains a 5-meter guard column, Y-connector and polyimide resin.

Joanne Foy, a chemist at TriMatrix Laboratories, is an early user of the new Zebron columns. “I was able to install the ZB-CLPesticides-1 and ZB-CLPesticides-2 columns as direct replacements for the Restek Rtx-CLPesticides and Rtx-CLPesticides2 columns that I currently use and made no changes to the method,” Foy commented.

Phenomenex offers online, 24/7 support for pesticides analysis along with application and method development services and certified reference materials for calibration.