Phenomenex Extends HPLC Lux Column Range to Resolve 92% of Enantiomers

Phenomenex announces two new phases to its Chiral Column line. The two new polysaccharide-based Lux® Columns for HPLC/SFC chiral separations brings the company’s total to five unique Lux phases, which together form a set with a wide range of selectivity to resolve 92 percent of enantiomers.

The new Lux Cellulose-4 is a novel cellulose tris (4-chloro-3-methylephenylcarbamate) phase and the Lux Cellulose-3 uses cellulose tris (4-methylbenzoate) as the selector. Both new columns deliver high efficiency and loading capacity and are pressure-stable up to 300 bar.

Phenomenex has designed a chiral method development wall poster to help guide users through simple screening protocols, and customers can create their own three-, four- or five-phase screening kits. Phenomenex also offers HPLC and SFC chiral screening and separation services. After resolving the chiral compound, Phenomenex provides a report detailing the optimal phase and method conditions to the service customer.

“We are committed to developing and introducing innovations for the growing chiral market,” explained Kari Carlson, brand manager for Phenomenex. “Resolving chiral compounds is relatively difficult and column selection can be complicated. Our Lux family of complementary phases dramatically increases the success rate.”


The FDA mandates that enantiomers of all chiral drugs in development be screened separately on their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. A chiral compound’s enantiomers may have different pharmacological effects in biological systems. Yet chiral molecules are often difficult to separate and identify using traditional chromatography tools. The identification of chiral molecules is also important in toxicology studies, flavor and fragrance analysis and environmental applications such as pesticide analysis.

Lux columns are offered in 3µm and 5µm particle sizes, packed for analytical-scale use or AXIA™-packed for preparative applications. 20 µm bulk media is also available up to the kilogram scale.