SEC Options

[FastLC]

Concerning SEC (aqueous) separation of biopolymers (carbos), what
do the experts feel are the best options, coated polymers (PS, polyOH methacrylate, etc); or diol/glycerol/polyOH coated silicas.

Looking at masses between 10Kd and 1000Kd. (series of columns).
Minimal branching.

Your expert opinions are greatly appreciated.

[Uwe Neue]

Both will do. You need a hydrophilic polymer (not PS), such as Ultrahydrogel, or a silica-based diol packing. I think that you will have more flexibility with the pore size distributions of a polymer packing. On the other hand, it appears that you are a novice, and silica-based packings are more rugged than polymer-based packings.

MW alone is not enough information with respect to the best pore size. However, you can select an Ultrahydrogel linear, and it will cover the range that you are interested in. Alternatively, the Protein-Pak 300 SW is a rugged, silica-based packing that appears to have the right pore size for your stuff. I can be more specific, if you specify the polymer that you want to separate.

Reason: The size of a polymer is not a function of the molecular weight, but a function of the structure. Different polymers have a different size for a particular molecular weight, and SEC is size-exclusion chromatography.