Accurate polymer characterisation begins with selecting the right SEC/GPC column for your application. With a wide variety of polymer types, solvent systems, and analytical conditions to consider, column selection is an important step in developing reliable and reproducible methods.
TSKgel columns from Tosoh Bioscience are designed to support this process, offering a comprehensive portfolio for organic, aqueous, and mixed-solvent polymer analysis. This article provides an overview of the key TSKgel column families, including the impact of packing structure and column dimensions on separation performance and method optimisation.
Overview of the TSKgel Range: Selecting the Right Column
Tosoh Bioscience provides a structured SEC/GPC column portfolio designed to simplify selection based on polymer solubility and analytical conditions. The TSKgel range is organised by solvent compatibility and sample type – covering organic, polar organic, and aqueous polymers – enabling analysts to efficiently select the most suitable column for their application. This clear classification supports streamlined method development and delivers reliable, high-quality separations across diverse polymer analyses.
Figure 1: Solvent compatibility of the TSKgel column range
Organic-Soluble Polymers: H Type Columns for Ambient Temperature Analysis
TSKgel H type columns utilise polystyrene-based packing materials and are optimised for synthetic polymers analysed in organic solvents under ambient conditions. Typical applications include polycarbonates, PEG-based materials, PVC, and polyurethanes.
| Solvent | Solvent Exchanges | Length | Packing Type | Application Focus | |
| HXL | 100% organic | One | 300 mm | Single pore, mixed-bed and multipore | General analysis, ultra-low adsorption |
| HHR | 100% organic | Multiple | 300 mm | Single pore and mixed-bed | Analysis with various organic solvents |
| Super HZ | 100% organic | One | 150 mm | Single pore and mixed-bed | Semi-micro format for high efficiency |
| Super H | 100% organic | Multiple | 150 mm | Single pore and mixed-bed | Semi-micro format for high efficiency |
| SuperMultipore HZ | THF only | THF only | 150 mm | Multipore | Calibration curve with high linearity |
Table 1: Summary of the TSKgel H type columns for organic-soluble polymers under ambient conditions
High Temperature Polymer Analysis: HT and HT2 Columns
For polymers that are not soluble at ambient conditions, elevated temperature analysis is essential. TSKgel HT and HT2 columns are packed with cross-linked PS-DVB particles, providing excellent thermal stability (Figure 4). These columns are designed for materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyphenylene sulphide, and polymethylpentene – polymers that require high temperatures for complete dissolution and accurate characterisation.
| Solvent | Length | Packing Type | Temperature | |
| HT Series | Organic | 300 mm | Single pore and mixed-bed | 140°C |
| HT2 Series | Organic | 300 mm | Mixed-bed | 220°C |
Table 2: Summary of the properties of the TSKgel HT and HT2 columns
Figure 4: Durability of TSKgel HHR HT columns compared to two commercially available high temperature GPC columns
For optimal results, TSKgel high temperature columns can be paired with the EcoSEC High Temperature GPC system. This fully integrated platform provides precise temperature control, low dead volume, and stable baseline performance – supporting reliable, high-quality separations and efficient, reproducible workflows for challenging polymer analyses.
Figure 5: EcoSEC High Temperature GPC System
Polar Organic Solvent Compatibility: Alpha and Super AW Columns
Alpha and Super AW columns are based on highly crosslinked, hydroxylated polymethacrylate particles, delivering excellent compatibility across both aqueous and organic systems. Their robust gel structure minimises swelling and shrinkage during solvent changes, ensuring stable, reproducible performance. This versatility makes them well suited to analysing both water- and organic-soluble polymers, with typical applications including cellulose derivatives, melamine and urea resins, and polyamide-imide materials.
| Solvent | Length | Packing Type | Temperature | |
| Alpha | 100% water to 100% non-polar organic | 300 mm | Single pore and mixed-bed | General analysis |
| SuperAW | 100% water to 100% non-polar organic | 150 mm | Single pore and mixed-bed | Semi-micro format for high efficiency |
Table 3: Summary of the properties of the TSKgel Alpha and SuperAW columns
TSKgel Alpha columns maintain excellent stability across a wide solvent range, from 100% aqueous to 100% organic conditions (Figure 5). By comparison, TSKgel PW-type columns are typically limited to aqueous mobile phases containing up to 50% organic solvent.
Figure 6: Demonstration of TSKgel Alpha stability under different solvents
Water-Soluble Polymers: PW Type Columns
TSKgel PW columns utilise polymethacrylate-based packing materials, making them ideally suited for aqueous polymer analysis. They are commonly used for the separation of polysaccharides – such as dextran, starch, and pullulan – as well as PVP and biopolymers like hyaluronic acid, where aqueous compatibility and stability are essential for accurate results.
| Solvent | Length | Packing Type | Application Focus | |
| PW | Aqueous | 300 mm | Single pore and mixed-bed | General analysis |
| PWXL | Aqueous | 300 mm | Single pore and mixed-bed | Improved resolution over PW series |
| SuperMultipore PW | Aqueous | 150 mm | Multipore | Calibration curve with high linearity |
| PWXL-CP | Aqueous | 300 mm | Single pore | For cationic polymers |
Table 4: Summary of the properties of the TSKgel PW series columns
Packed Bed Composition: Single Pore, Mixed-bed, or Multipore?
SEC packing materials typically exhibit a narrow pore size distribution, which can limit effective separation when analysing polymers with broad molecular weight ranges. To address this, analysts may either connect columns with different pore sizes or select columns manufactured with mixed-bed or multipore packings that extend the separation range within a single column.
Single pore columns provide high resolution within a defined molecular weight range, but their limited coverage often necessitates multiple columns in series – resulting in longer run times and increased solvent consumption. Mixed-bed (linear) columns overcome this by incorporating a range of pore sizes, enabling broader separation in a single column and extending the linear calibration range. However, the combination of pore sizes can introduce inflection points in calibration curves, which may impact molecular weight accuracy in some applications.
Multipore columns offer a more advanced approach, with each particle containing a wide distribution of pore sizes. This design delivers broad separation ranges while maintaining linear calibration and consistent chromatographic performance. By minimising inflection points, multipore columns improve molecular weight accuracy and reproducibility, making them well suited to modern polymer analysis workflows.
Figure 7: Schematic showing the difference between single pore, mixed-bed and multipore packing types
Column Dimensions: Semi-Micro vs Conventional
Conventional SEC columns, typically measuring 7.8 mm internal diameter x 300 mm length, are widely used but can result in higher solvent consumption and longer analysis times – limiting throughput and increasing operational costs in busy laboratories.
Semi-micro columns provide a more efficient alternative. Available in 4.6 mm or 6 mm internal diameter and 150 mm length, these columns are designed to maintain excellent separation performance while improving analytical efficiency. Their reduced dimensions enable lower solvent usage, faster run times, and increased sample throughput, making them particularly well suited to laboratories focused on productivity and cost optimisation. For optimal performance, semi-micro columns should be paired with low dead-volume systems such as the EcoSEC Elite to deliver fast, high-quality polymer separations.
Figure 8: Comparison of 4.6 x 150mm column v 7.8 x 300mm demonstrating higher throughput
Conclusion: Reliable Polymer Analysis with TSKgel Technology
Selecting the appropriate SEC/GPC column is fundamental to achieving accurate, reproducible polymer analysis. The TSKgel range from Tosoh Bioscience provides a versatile set of solutions, supporting organic, aqueous, and mixed-solvent applications alongside specialised options for high-temperature and high-efficiency workflows.
By understanding how column chemistry, packing structure, and dimensions influence separation performance, laboratories can make informed decisions that improve data quality, reduce analysis time, and optimise operational efficiency. Whether the priority is high resolution, broad molecular weight coverage, or increased throughput, TSKgel columns offer a reliable solution for modern polymer characterisation.
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