Omnifit 006BCC-15-25-AF Medium-Pressure Axial Compression Glass Chromatography Column

Overview

The Omnifit 006BCC-15-25-AF is a medium-pressure axial compression glass chromatography column engineered for robust, reproducible preparative liquid chromatography (Prep LC) in laboratory-scale purification workflows. Designed and manufactured in the UK to stringent ISO-compliant quality standards, this column employs a mechanically adjustable end-fitting system that enables precise, repeatable bed compression—critical for maintaining column integrity, minimizing channeling, and ensuring uniform flow distribution across the packed stationary phase. Its borosilicate glass construction provides optical clarity for real-time visual monitoring of bed settling and solvent front progression, while delivering high chemical resistance within a broad pH range (1–14) and thermal stability between 4 °C and 20 °C. Unlike stainless-steel or polymer alternatives, the all-glass architecture eliminates metal ion leaching and adsorption artifacts, making it particularly suitable for sensitive biomolecules, natural product isolations, and pharmaceutical intermediate purification where trace metal contamination must be avoided.

Key Features

• Adjustable axial compression mechanism: One fixed and one fully adjustable end-fitting allows controlled, tool-free bed compaction—enabling optimization of packing density without column disassembly.
• Borosilicate glass column body (15 mm ID × 250 mm length): Offers exceptional transparency, dimensional stability under pressure, and compatibility with UV-transparent solvents.
• Chemically inert fluid path: PTFE filter discs (5–50 µm pore options), FKM/FPM O-rings, acetal adjustment/locking nuts, and glass-filled polypropylene tubing connectors ensure compatibility with aggressive mobile phases—including low-pH buffers, polar organic modifiers, and aqueous-organic gradients—while excluding known incompatible solvents (e.g., acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, phenol >10%, concentrated strong acids/bases).
• Modular, serviceable design: All critical wear components—including PTFE and PE filter discs, O-rings, and end fittings—are available as individual part numbers (e.g., 006FR-15-xx, 006OR-15-V, 006BAE-15), enabling cost-effective maintenance and configuration flexibility across column diameters and lengths.
• Validated pressure rating: Certified for continuous operation up to 900 psi (60 bar) at 15 mm ID—supporting medium-pressure prep LC applications such as flash chromatography, desalting, and fractionation of peptides, oligonucleotides, and small-molecule APIs.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

This column is intended for use with standard silica- and polymer-based stationary phases (e.g., C18, diol, amino, ion-exchange resins) in analytical-to-preparative scale separations. It complies with general laboratory safety requirements per IEC 61010-1 and is compatible with GLP/GMP-aligned workflows when integrated into validated Prep LC systems. While not intrinsically compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11, its mechanical traceability—through documented compression settings, batch-specific component part numbers, and physical logbook entries—supports audit readiness in regulated environments. The absence of metallic components ensures adherence to ICH Q5C guidelines for protein stability studies and USP recommendations for glass-based chromatographic hardware in pharmaceutical testing.

Software & Data Management

As a hardware-only component, the 006BCC-15-25-AF does not include embedded firmware or digital interfaces. However, it is fully interoperable with industry-standard Prep LC control platforms—including Biotage Isolera, Teledyne ISCO Combiflash, and Agilent Prep 1260 systems—via standardized 1/4-28 UNF PTFE tubing connections (supplied: two lengths—2 m and 0.5 m, both 1/16″ OD). System-level data acquisition (flow rate, backpressure, UV absorbance) is managed externally; column-specific metadata (ID, length, filter pore size, compression setting) should be recorded manually or via LIMS integration using the full Omnifit part number (e.g., 006BCC-15-25-AF) for full traceability.

Applications

• Purification of synthetic peptides and modified oligonucleotides under mild acidic or neutral conditions.
• Desalting and buffer exchange of recombinant proteins prior to formulation or structural analysis.
• Isolation of natural product fractions from plant extracts using gradient elution with methanol/water or acetonitrile/water systems.
• Method development and scale-up studies bridging analytical HPLC to gram-scale prep LC—leveraging identical stationary phase chemistry and predictable linear velocity scaling.
• Educational chromatography labs requiring visual confirmation of band migration, bed homogeneity, and solvent front behavior.

FAQ

What is the maximum recommended operating pressure for the 15 mm ID version?
The 006BCC-15-25-AF is rated for continuous operation at up to 900 psi (60 bar); exceeding this limit may compromise glass integrity or seal performance.
Can this column be used with reversed-phase C18 media at pH 2.0?
Yes—its borosilicate glass and FKM/FPM seals are stable across pH 1–14; however, prolonged exposure to >10% HCl or >10% NaOH is not advised.
How do I select the appropriate PTFE filter pore size?
Use 5 µm for fine-particle (<10 µm) silica packings; 10–20 µm for standard 15–25 µm media; 30–50 µm for polymeric or macroporous resins—always matching pore size to particle diameter to prevent clogging and ensure uniform flow.
Is the column compatible with automated fraction collectors?
Yes—standard 1/16″ OD PTFE tubing with 1/4-28 UNF PP fittings ensures leak-tight integration with most commercial fraction collectors and switching valves.
Are replacement O-rings supplied with the column?
No—FKM/FPM O-rings (part no. 006OR-15-V, 10 per pack) are sold separately to support scheduled maintenance and extended column lifetime.