Unbonded high-purity silica gel
40-75 μm
70 Å
Weakly acidic silanol surface
For oil, grease, wax and hydrocarbon removal
Compatible alternative to Waters Sep-Pak Silica
Availability: In Stock
Silica SPE Cartridge
Description
Classic Normal-Phase Silica for Routine Sample Cleanup
Silica SPE cartridges use unbonded porous silica gel as a polar adsorbent for normal-phase solid phase extraction.
The silica surface is covered with silanol groups (Si-OH), which provide strong polar interaction through hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole adsorption mechanisms. Unlike reversed-phase bonded sorbents such as C18 SPE cartridges, bare silica retains compounds primarily by polarity rather than hydrophobic interaction.
This makes Silica SPE one of the most widely used sorbents for removal of oils, grease, waxes, lipids and hydrocarbon interferences from organic extracts prior to GC, GC-MS and environmental analysis.
Compared with bonded phases such as Diol SPE cartridges or NH2 SPE cartridges , unbonded silica provides stronger polar adsorption and more aggressive cleanup of non-polar matrix components.
Why Silica SPE is Effective for Oil, Grease & Hydrocarbon Removal
The highly polar silanol surface strongly adsorbs polarizable organic compounds and weakly polar matrix interferences from non-aqueous extracts.
Silica SPE is especially effective for removing:
- Oils and greases
- Waxes and lipids
- Aliphatic hydrocarbons
- Petroleum-related non-polar contaminants
- Hydrophobic matrix residues
This allows cleaner chromatographic baselines and improved trace analysis performance for environmental, food safety and petrochemical workflows.
When to Use Silica Instead of Bonded SPE Phases
| Sorbent | Surface Characteristics | Best For | Limitation |
| Silica | Weakly acidic silanol groups | Oil, grease, wax and hydrocarbon cleanup from organic extracts | Not suitable for aqueous samples |
| C18 | Hydrophobic bonded phase | Non-polar compounds in aqueous matrices | Cannot perform normal-phase cleanup |
| NH2 | Aminopropyl bonded phase | Carbohydrates and weak ion-exchange applications | Additional ionic interaction may affect selectivity |
| Diol | Glycol-bonded silica | Milder polar retention and lipid fractionation | Less aggressive non-polar matrix removal |
Silica SPE is typically selected when strong normal-phase adsorption and efficient removal of bulk non-polar matrix components are required before trace analysis.
Typical Situations Where Silica SPE Performs Better
- Cleanup of soil and sediment extracts prior to GC-MS analysis
- Removal of fats and oils from food extracts during pesticide analysis
- Hydrocarbon fractionation in petrochemical workflows
- Grease and oil removal before trace contaminant determination
- Cleanup of organic extracts where C18 causes unwanted hydrophobic retention
- Sample preparation for EPA normal-phase cleanup methods
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Sorbent | Unbonded high-purity silica gel |
| Surface Characteristics | Weakly acidic silanol groups |
| Particle Size | 40-75 μm |
| Pore Size | 70 Å |
| Retention Mechanism | Normal-phase adsorption |
| Primary Interaction | Hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole interaction |
| Recommended Solvents | Hexane, heptane, DCM, ethyl acetate, acetone |
Key Features
- Classic normal-phase sorbent – strong polar adsorption through surface silanol groups
- Efficient non-polar matrix cleanup – removes oils, waxes, lipids and hydrocarbons
- Weakly acidic surface chemistry – suitable for weakly cationic compounds
- High-purity unbonded silica – stable batch-to-batch surface activity
- EPA workflow compatibility – suitable for EPA 3630C silica gel cleanup
- GC and GC-MS sample preparation – effective cleanup prior to chromatographic analysis
- Wide cartridge format range – from trace cleanup to large-volume extraction
Typical Applications
| Industry | Application | Typical Interferences Removed |
| Environmental | Soil and sediment extract cleanup | Hydrocarbons, oils, greases, non-polar organics |
| Food Safety | Pesticide residue cleanup in fatty matrices | Lipids, waxes, fatty acids |
| Petrochemical | Hydrocarbon fractionation | Saturates, aromatics, petroleum residues |
| Pharmaceutical | Raw material impurity cleanup | Hydrophobic byproducts and residues |
| Industrial Hygiene | Oil and grease determination | Non-polar interferences before GC analysis |
Compatible Analytical Workflows
- EPA 3630C silica gel cleanup
- GC-MS environmental cleanup workflows
- Pesticide residue cleanup
- Petroleum hydrocarbon analysis
- Oil and grease determination
- Organic extract purification
- Trace contaminant analysis
Standard SPE Workflow (Normal-Phase)
- Condition – hexane, heptane or dichloromethane
- Load – sample dissolved in non-polar organic solvent
- Wash – remove undesired low-polarity interferences
- Elute – increase solvent polarity to recover analytes
Important: Silica SPE cartridges are not suitable for aqueous sample loading because water disrupts normal-phase retention mechanisms.
Recommended Cartridge Formats
| Application | Recommended Format |
| Trace pesticide cleanup | 100-200 mg / 1-3 mL |
| Routine GC cleanup | 500 mg / 3 mL |
| Petroleum hydrocarbon extracts | 1 g / 6 mL |
| High-matrix environmental samples | 2 g / 12 mL |
Available Cartridge Configurations
| Cat. No. | Description | Pack |
| 15011015 | Silica SPE, 100 mg / 1 mL | 100 pcs/pk |
| 15011016 | Silica SPE, 200 mg / 3 mL | 50 pcs/pk |
| 15011017 | Silica SPE, 500 mg / 3 mL | 50 pcs/pk |
| 15011018 | Silica SPE, 500 mg / 6 mL | 30 pcs/pk |
| 15011019 | Silica SPE, 1 g / 6 mL | 30 pcs/pk |
| 15011020 | Silica SPE, 1 g / 12 mL | 20 pcs/pk |
| 15011021 | Silica 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 particle size and silica surface activity
- Batch-specific COA and lot traceability
- Compatible replacement for Waters Sep-Pak Silica workflows
- OEM private label packaging available
- Bulk silica sorbent supply available
- Custom cartridge filling and packaging support
- Fast shipment for standard specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Silica SPE and C18 SPE?
Silica SPE is a normal-phase polar sorbent used for cleanup of non-polar interferences from organic extracts, while C18 SPE is a reversed-phase hydrophobic sorbent designed for aqueous sample preparation.
Can Silica SPE be used for water samples?
No. Silica SPE cartridges should only be used with non-aqueous organic solvent systems because water disrupts normal-phase retention behavior.
Is Silica SPE suitable for removing lipids from food extracts?
Yes. Silica SPE is widely used for removal of lipids, waxes and fatty matrix components from food and environmental extracts prior to chromatographic analysis.
When should I use Silica instead of Diol SPE?
Silica SPE is generally preferred when stronger polar adsorption and more aggressive removal of non-polar matrix components are required.
What particle size and pore size are used in Hawach Silica SPE cartridges?
Hawach Silica SPE cartridges use 40-75 μm particle size and 70 Å pore size for balanced flow performance and adsorption efficiency.
Do you provide batch-specific COA?
Yes. COA, particle size analysis and surface activity verification are available for each production batch.
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