Is glass adsorption getting the best of your trace-level analyses?

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Why GOLD-grade glass vials and inserts are the right choice for critical components and ultra-trace level concentrations 

Whether you’re using glass vials or glass inserts, did you know that the quality of the glass can directly impact your chromatography results? It’s true, especially when you want to detect small concentrations of certain structures or analytes. 

If you’re suffering from failed assays or struggling with trace analysis performance, your choice of glass may be to blame.  

The culprit? Glass adsorption  

Different types of glass have different expansion coefficients, which range from 70 type basic glass to 51 type, up to 33 type. These numbers describe the activity of the surface of the glass wall, which relates to the amount of free silanol groups present that can react with analytes and bind them to the glass surface. Higher surface activity increases the amount that a susceptible analyte will stick to, or be adsorbed, on the surface. 

When analyzing low concentrations of susceptible analytes, the percentage of analyte adsorbed is relatively greater and the scale of the problem is compounded. This results in less free analyte available for analysis on the chromatographic system and potentially incorrect results. 

The solution? GOLD-grade glass vials and inserts 

The Thermo Scientific™ SureSTART™ collection of vials, caps, inserts and well plates includes GOLD-grade glass vials and inserts (available in Performance Level 3). The innovative glass technology contributes to unmatched analytical performance—specifically designed for trace level analyses and critical polar analytes that are prone to glass adsorption. Suitable for all LC and GC autosamplers, this inert vial provides the lowest adsorption surface on the market. This helps achieve high recovery rates for critical compounds, and analytes at ultra-trace level concentrations. 

Our GOLD-grade glass vials and inserts also: 

• Ensure more compound coverage 
• Deliver low compound adsorption for biomolecules and polar compounds 
• Ensure better chromatographic reproducibility due to reduced peak shifting and adduct formation 
• Consistently deliver the ultimate purity grade and the lowest possible surface activity 

• Help reduce cost of analysis by avoiding sample failure and costly re-analysis 

Bottom line: If low concentration levels need to be measured, the glass vial is more important than the chromatographic instrument used. 

 

Want to know more about glass adsorption and GOLD-grade glass vials and inserts?

Check out these online resources:  

• Whitepaper: Why is high glass quality so important when you want to detect low concentrations of analytes? 
• Explore our entire SureSTART collection  
• Shop our GOLD-grade vials 
• Shop our GOLD-grade inserts