Aminopropyl bonded silica
Carbon Content: 4.5%
40-75 μm
100 Å
Weak anion exchange + polar adsorption
For biological fluids, saccharides, steroids and fatty acid removal
Availability: In Stock
NH2 SPE Cartridge
Description
One Sorbent with Dual Retention Mechanisms
NH2 SPE cartridges use aminopropyl bonded silica as a dual-mode sorbent combining weak anion exchange (WAX) and normal-phase polar adsorption.
The aminopropyl functional group (-CH₂-CH₂-CH₂-NH₂) can become positively charged under aqueous conditions, allowing retention of negatively charged analytes through weak anion exchange interaction. Under non-polar organic solvent conditions, the same sorbent functions as a polar adsorbent through hydrogen bonding and dipole interaction.
This dual functionality allows NH2 SPE cartridges to support both aqueous ion-exchange workflows and organic normal-phase cleanup using the same cartridge chemistry.
Compared with Silica SPE cartridges, NH2 phases provide weaker polar retention with additional ionic selectivity. Compared with Diol SPE cartridges, NH2 sorbents offer stronger interaction with acidic analytes through weak anion exchange mechanisms.
Two Retention Modes in One Cartridge
Weak Anion Exchange (WAX) Mode
Under aqueous conditions below pH~9.5, the aminopropyl group becomes protonated and positively charged, allowing retention of acidic and anionic analytes such as:
- Carboxylic acids
- Sulfonates
- Phosphorylated compounds
- Acidic drug metabolites
- Anionic impurities
Normal-Phase Polar Adsorption Mode
Under non-polar organic solvent conditions, NH2 phases behave as polar adsorbents capable of retaining:
- Monosaccharides and polysaccharides
- Steroids and cholesterol
- Polar metabolites
- Pigments and fatty acids
- Polar organic compounds
When to Use NH2 Instead of Other Polar SPE Phases
| Sorbent | Primary Mechanism | Best For | Key Advantage |
| NH2 | Weak anion exchange + polar adsorption | Biological fluids, sugars, steroids, fatty acid removal | Dual-mode flexibility |
| Silica | Strong polar adsorption | Oil, grease and hydrocarbon cleanup | Stronger normal-phase retention |
| Diol | Mild polar adsorption | Lipid fractionation and biofluids | Reduced silanol activity |
| SAX | Strong anion exchange | Strong acidic analytes | Permanently charged functionality |
| C18 | Hydrophobic reversed-phase retention | Non-polar compounds in water | Strong hydrophobic retention |
NH2 SPE is commonly selected when both polar interaction and weak anion exchange selectivity are required within the same analytical workflow.
Typical Situations Where NH2 SPE Performs Better
- Drug metabolite extraction from plasma and urine
- Cleanup of acidic compounds from biological matrices
- Saccharide and carbohydrate extraction
- Steroid and cholesterol purification
- Removal of pigments and fatty acids from food extracts
- Dual-mode method development for unknown analyte chemistry
Sorbent Chemistry & Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Sorbent | Aminopropyl bonded silica |
| Functional Group | -CH₂-CH₂-CH₂-NH₂ |
| Particle Size | 40-75 μm |
| Pore Size | 100 Å |
| Surface Area | ~300 m²/g |
| pKa | ~9.8 |
| Mode 1 | Weak anion exchange (aqueous) |
| Mode 2 | Normal-phase polar adsorption (organic) |
Key Features
- Dual-mode extraction capability– weak anion exchange and normal-phase retention in one sorbent
- Weak anion exchange selectivity– retains acidic and anionic compounds under aqueous conditions
- Polar adsorption functionality– suitable for sugars, steroids and polar metabolites
- Biological matrix compatibility– effective for plasma, serum and urine cleanup
- Pigment and fatty acid removal– commonly used in food and environmental sample preparation
- Flexible method development– suitable for unknown analyte polarity screening
- LC-MS and analytical workflow compatibility– supports modern analytical sample preparation
Typical Applications
| Industry | Application | Retention Mode | Typical Targets |
| Bioanalysis | Drug and metabolite extraction | WAX or normal-phase | Drug metabolites, acidic pharmaceuticals, peptides |
| Food & Nutraceutical | Saccharide and steroid cleanup | Normal-phase | Monosaccharides, cholesterol, steroids |
| Environmental | Pigment and fatty acid removal | Normal-phase | Chlorophyll, lipids, humic substances |
| Pharmaceutical QC | Anionic impurity cleanup | WAX | Sulfonates, acidic byproducts |
| Method Development | Dual-mode polarity screening | Both | Mixed-polarity analytes |
Compatible Analytical Workflows
- LC-MS/MS sample preparation
- Biological fluid cleanup
- Saccharide analysis workflows
- Steroid purification
- Weak anion exchange cleanup
- Food contaminant analysis
- Polar metabolite extraction
Standard SPE Workflows
Weak Anion Exchange (WAX) Mode
- Condition– methanol followed by water or aqueous buffer
- Load– aqueous sample with analytes in anionic form
- Wash– remove neutral interferences with water or dilute buffer
- Elute– acidic solvent or high ionic strength buffer
Normal-Phase Mode
- Condition– hexane, DCM or other non-polar solvent
- Load– sample dissolved in non-polar organic solvent
- Wash– low-polarity solvent to remove weak interferences
- Elute– increase solvent polarity to recover retained analytes
The same NH2 cartridge type can be used in either mode depending on solvent composition and analyte chemistry.
Recommended Cartridge Formats
| Application | Recommended Format |
| Biofluid cleanup | 100-200 mg / 1-3 mL |
| Routine LC-MS sample preparation | 500 mg / 3 mL |
| Food matrix cleanup | 500 mg / 6 mL |
| Preparative extraction | 1-2 g / 6-12 mL |
Available Cartridge Configurations
| Cat. No. | Description | Pack |
| 15011001 | NH2 SPE, 100 mg / 1 mL | 100 pcs/pk |
| 15011002 | NH2 SPE, 200 mg / 3 mL | 50 pcs/pk |
| 15011003 | NH2 SPE, 500 mg / 3 mL | 50 pcs/pk |
| 15011004 | NH2 SPE, 500 mg / 6 mL | 30 pcs/pk |
| 15011005 | NH2 SPE, 1 g / 6 mL | 30 pcs/pk |
| 15011006 | NH2 SPE, 1 g / 12 mL | 20 pcs/pk |
| 15011007 | NH2 SPE, 2 g / 12 mL | 20 pcs/pk |
Compatible with standard SPE manifolds, vacuum systems and automated SPE workstations.
Download PDF Datasheet
B2B & OEM Supply Advantages
- ISO 9001 controlled manufacturing
- Consistent bonding density and particle distribution
- Batch-specific COA and lot traceability
- Direct replacement for major NH2 SPE brands
- OEM private label and distributor packaging available
- Bulk aminopropyl sorbent supply available
- Custom cartridge filling support
- Fast shipment for standard formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between NH2 and SAX SPE?
NH2 is a weak anion exchanger that becomes positively charged only under suitable pH conditions, while SAX sorbents remain permanently charged across the full pH range.
Can NH2 cartridges be used for sugar analysis?
Yes. In normal-phase mode, NH2 SPE cartridges retain carbohydrates and saccharides through hydrogen bonding interaction.
How are fatty acids and pigments removed using NH2 SPE?
Under normal-phase conditions, fatty acids and pigments interact with the polar aminopropyl surface and can be separated from non-polar analytes.
Are NH2 SPE cartridges suitable for plasma and urine samples?
Yes. NH2 SPE cartridges are widely used for biological fluid cleanup and acidic metabolite extraction in LC-MS workflows.
When should I choose NH2 instead of Diol SPE?
NH2 SPE is generally preferred when weak anion exchange interaction or stronger retention of acidic compounds is required.
Do you provide batch-specific COA?
Yes. COA, particle size analysis and retention verification are available for each production batch.
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