How Do Chromatography Columns from GE and Essential Life Solutions Compare?

[prc3]

I think that it is essential for us to take a look at all the equipment that makes it easy for us to solve all the problems that we solve, in the laboratory setting. It helps us look at different products, help get reviews from our fellow scientists and to expand our laboratory's versatility.

I will start out by talking about 2 common companies that develop and sell chromatography columns. Feel free to add in about any chromatography product and its competitors and how they are better / worse than the other.

GE - XK Columns
PROS

​

Probably the most widely used columns in Chromatography right now.​

They are relatively cheap and are easy to use/ maintain​

They have a large company backing so the product is generally good quality​

Come packed or empty for convenience​

CONS

The product lacks versatility​

End Fittings are hard to remove​

Frits are not true frits, they are a sock design​

Essential Life Solutions - Econoline Columns
PROS

True Frit Design with dispersion mechanism​

End Fittings are "screw on/off" so it makes it easy to remove​

Double piston design and Aqueous or Solvent Resisten​

CONS

Do not come in with a packed column option​

Smaller company, but has good customer service​

Screwing mechanism can be tought after a long run​

websites:
www.essential-life.net
www.gelifesciences.com

 

[Monique]

The following website is better suited for product reviews: http://www.biocompare.com/

 

[quicknote]

I completely agree that the equipment we use in the laboratory is essential for our work. In the field of chromatography, I believe that it is important to have a diverse range of products to choose from in order to cater to different needs and achieve the best results. It is also crucial to have reliable and high-quality products to ensure accurate and reproducible data.

The two companies mentioned, GE and Essential Life Solutions, both offer chromatography columns, but with different features and advantages. GE's XK columns may be more widely used and have the backing of a large company, but they may lack versatility and have some drawbacks such as hard-to-remove end fittings and a sock design for frits. On the other hand, Essential Life Solutions' Econoline columns offer a true frit design with a dispersion mechanism, easy-to-remove end fittings, and a double piston design that is resistant to both aqueous and solvent conditions. However, they may not come with a packed column option and the screwing mechanism may be challenging after a long run.

In my opinion, both companies have their strengths and weaknesses, and it ultimately depends on the specific needs and preferences of the laboratory. It is important for scientists to carefully evaluate and compare different products to determine which one would be the most suitable for their experiments. It is also beneficial to seek reviews and feedback from fellow scientists to get a better understanding of the performance and reliability of the products.

In the end, having a variety of options in the market allows us to expand our laboratory's versatility and choose the best equipment for our experiments. As scientists, we must continuously strive for improvement and innovation, and having access to different products helps us achieve that goal.