The selection of the particle size distribution and pore diameter for your application varies on the type of chromatography being done. In addition, not all the 40-63um gels are the same, i.e the absence of so-called fines (particles below 40um) has a great impact on performance.
The most popular particle size application and distributions are described hereafter.
5 – 20 µm
- Contain neither binder (organic or inorganic) nor UV indicator (F254)
- Can also be used in flash chromatography if higher resolution is required (higher back-pressure)
- Specialized Particles for Difficult Separations: 15 – 35 µm
15 – 40 µm
- High-resolution silica for difficult separations (similar polarities)
- Particles for Flash Chromatography
40 – 63 µm
- Chromatography types: high-resolution flash chromatography & low to medium-pressure preparative chromatography
- Narrow particle size over other flash chromatography silica
- Easier to pack
- More uniform packing
- Superior resolution
- Suitable for uses with complex matrices
60 – 120 µm
- Alternative to 40-63 µm silica gel for faster flow rate without pressure
- Particles for column (or Gravity) Chromatography 60 – 200 µm
- Most economical silica for open column chromatography (gravity)
- Suitable for rough purification and large-scale preparative chromatography
- Easier to handle
- Purification cost reduction
120 – 200 µm
- Silica for standard open column chromatography
- Narrow particle size enables uniform packing
- Suitable for mass overload purification
200 – 1000 µm
- Silica for plugs
Typical pore sizes used for purification of different molecules depend on their molecular weight.
For small organic molecules with molecular weights Mw < 1.000 the typical pore sizes is 60 and 70A, for Mw < 400 40A. For peptides with Mw < 10.000 pore sizes 90-300A are applied and for polypeptides and bio-polymers with Mw > 10.000 typically pore sizes of 1.000A are applied.