Shodex Column Recommendation for High-MW Polysaccharides (Seaweed Extracts up to 10–20 MDa)

Record: 816

Category: Column Selection
Product: SB-806M
Sample: Polysaccharides 

Question
A customer wants to analyze seaweed polysaccharide extracts with molecular weights up to 10–20 MDa. Would OHpak SB-802.5/SB-806 or SUGAR KS series columns be better?
Also, what is the pH range of the SUGAR series?

Answer
For very high-MW polysaccharides (up to ~20 MDa), the most suitable choice is the OHpak SB-806M HQ column.
It is a linear-calibration, mixed-gel aqueous SEC column optimized for broad MW distributions of natural polymers such as alginates, carrageenans, and other seaweed polysaccharides.

• Recommended column: OHpak SB-806M HQ (8.0 × 300 mm, 13 µm)

• MW range: 5 × 10³ – 2 × 10⁷ Da (single column)

• Mode: Aqueous size-exclusion chromatography (SEC/GFC)

• Application: Laminarin SB-806M

Solvent & pH stability:

• OHpak SB series: pH 3 – 10; tolerates up to ~20 % methanol, ethanol, or acetonitrile.

• SUGAR KS series: Water-only operation; not recommended for high-MW or mixed-solvent systems.

Therefore, for seaweed polysaccharides and other biopolymers above 1 MDa, OHpak SB-806M HQ provides superior MW coverage, solvent flexibility, and column durability compared to any KS column.

Additional Comments

If greater resolution is needed, connect multiple SB-806M HQ columns in series.

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