Cyanopropyl bonded silica
40-75 μm
100 Å
5.8% carbon load
For medium-polarity compounds
Compatible alternative to Waters Sep-Pak CN
Availability: In Stock
CN SPE Cartridge – Dual-Mode Normal-Phase & Reversed-Phase SPE
Description
One Sorbent, Two Separation Modes
CN SPE cartridges combine hydrophobic and polar interaction mechanisms in a single sorbent. Unlike highly hydrophobic C18 phases or strongly polar bare silica, cyanopropyl (CN) bonded silica provides balanced selectivity for compounds with mixed polarity characteristics.
The cyanopropyl ligand combines weak hydrophobic interaction from the short alkyl chain with dipole interaction from the nitrile group, allowing both reversed-phase and normal-phase retention mechanisms.
This dual-mode behavior makes CN SPE cartridges particularly useful during method development, where analyte polarity and retention characteristics are not fully understood.
- Reversed-phase mode– extracts non-polar to moderately polar compounds from aqueous samples
- Normal-phase mode– retains polar compounds from non-polar organic solvents
- Mixed-polarity compatibility– useful for compounds that are too polar for C18 but not polar enough for bare silica
- Metal ion enrichment– capable of retaining certain metal species from aqueous matrices
When to Use CN Instead of C18 or Silica
| Sorbent | Best For | Limitation |
| CN (Cyanopropyl) | Medium-polarity compounds, mixed-polarity analytes, method development, compounds showing irreversible retention on C18 | Moderate hydrophobic retention compared with C18 |
| C18 | Strongly non-polar to moderately polar compounds requiring high hydrophobic retention | May irreversibly retain highly hydrophobic analytes; unsuitable for normal-phase workflows |
| Silica | Strongly polar compounds in normal-phase extraction | Weak reversed-phase capability |
| NH2 / Diol | Polar normal-phase separations and carbohydrate applications | Different selectivity and reduced compatibility for mixed-polarity compounds |
Compared with bare silica or NH2 phases, CN provides milder polar interactions and improved reproducibility for mixed-polarity compounds.
Typical Situations Where CN SPE Performs Better
- Your analyte binds too strongly to C18 and recovery becomes poor
- You need one sorbent compatible with both normal-phase and reversed-phase methods
- You are screening compounds with broad polarity range during method development
- You require balanced retention rather than extremely strong hydrophobic interaction
- You work with plasma, serum, urine or other biological matrices requiring moderate selectivity
Product Parameters
| Parameter | Specification |
| Sorbent | Cyanopropyl (CN) bonded silica |
| Particle Size | 40-75 μm |
| Pore Size | 100 Å |
| Surface Area | 280 m²/g |
| Carbon Load | 5.8% |
| End-Capping | No |
| Retention Mechanisms | Reversed-phase + normal-phase |
| Typical Solvent Compatibility | Water, methanol, acetonitrile, hexane, dichloromethane, IPA |
Key Features
- Dual-phase selectivity– supports both reversed-phase and normal-phase extraction
- Balanced retention– suitable for compounds with intermediate polarity
- Reduced irreversible binding– lower hydrophobicity than C18 improves analyte recovery
- Biological sample compatibility– effective for plasma, serum and urine cleanup
- Flexible method development– polarity selectivity can be tuned by solvent composition
- LC-MS sample preparation compatible– suitable for modern analytical workflows
- Metal ion enrichment capability– retains selected metal species in aqueous matrices
Typical Applications
| Industry | Application | Typical Analytes |
| Pharmaceutical & Bioanalysis | Drug and metabolite extraction from biological fluids | Sterols, steroid hormones, metabolites, pharmaceutical intermediates |
| Food Safety | Residue analysis and sample cleanup | Pesticides, veterinary drugs, food contaminants |
| Environmental Testing | Pollution monitoring and concentration | Oil contaminants, pesticides, semi-polar pollutants |
| Clinical Laboratories | Biological sample pretreatment | Plasma and urine analytes |
| Method Development | Mixed-polarity screening | Unknown or broad-polarity compound groups |
Compatible Analytical Workflows
- LC-MS/MS sample preparation
- HPLC-UV analysis
- GC residue cleanup workflows
- Environmental SPE concentration methods
- Biological fluid pretreatment
- Pharmaceutical impurity analysis
- Pesticide residue extraction
Workflow – Reversed-Phase Mode (Aqueous Samples)
- Condition– methanol followed by water or dilute buffer
- Load– aqueous sample with low organic content
- Wash– water or 5-10% methanol
- Elute– methanol, acetonitrile or mixed organic solvent
Workflow – Normal-Phase Mode (Organic Samples)
- Condition– non-polar solvent such as hexane or dichloromethane
- Load– sample dissolved in non-polar solvent
- Wash– non-polar solvent
- Elute– increasing polarity solvent such as hexane/acetone or hexane/IPA
Ordering Information
| Cat. No. | Description | Typical Application | Pack Size |
| 15011022 | CN, 100 mg / 1 mL | Trace residue analysis | 100 pcs/pk |
| 15011023 | CN, 200 mg / 3 mL | Routine analytical sample preparation | 50 pcs/pk |
| 15011024 | CN, 500 mg / 3 mL | Biological sample cleanup | 50 pcs/pk |
| 15011025 | CN, 500 mg / 6 mL | General SPE extraction | 30 pcs/pk |
| 15011026 | CN, 1 g / 6 mL | Environmental concentration | 30 pcs/pk |
| 15011027 | CN, 2 g / 12 mL | High-volume sample processing | 20 pcs/pk |
Compatible with standard SPE manifolds, vacuum systems and automated SPE workstations.
Download PDF Datasheet
OEM & Bulk Supply
- Bulk loose CN sorbent available
- OEM cartridge manufacturing support
- Private label packaging available
- Custom bed weight configuration
- Method development assistance
- Batch-specific COA and lot traceability
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use a CN SPE cartridge instead of C18?
CN SPE is often preferred when analytes bind too strongly to C18, when mixed-polarity retention is required, or when both normal-phase and reversed-phase compatibility are needed during method development.
Can the same CN cartridge support both normal-phase and reversed-phase methods?
Yes. The same CN sorbent can operate in either mode depending on conditioning, loading and elution solvents.
How does CN compare with Waters Sep-Pak CN?
Hawach CN SPE cartridges are compatible with typical Sep-Pak CN workflows and applications, including similar particle size, pore size and carbon load specifications. Minor optimization may be required depending on sample matrix and analytical conditions.
Is the CN sorbent end-capped?
No. CN sorbents are generally not end-capped in order to preserve polar interaction capability for normal-phase applications.
Do you provide COA and batch traceability?
Yes. Batch-specific COA and full production lot traceability are available.
The quality has a guarantee
Fast & safe shipping worldwide
Contact Hawach for a Quotation
Enter your email address and our sales staff will
contact you as soon as possible.
