Silica Gel Packing Agent

Silica gel has a strong physical strength and is the most widely used as a column packing agent for analysis and purification in chromatographies such as HPLC, medium and low pressure chromatography, and open column chromatography. FUJIFILM Wako provides various types of silica gel that can be used in a wide range of applications from analysis to large-scale purification and fractionation. A flow chart for selection and the particle size distribution table of the FUJIFILM Wako's silica gels are shown below.

How to Select Silica Gel

1. Shape

In general, spherical silica gel is expected to improve resolution and reproducibility compared with crushed silica gel (reasonable price).
FUJIFILM Wako employs crushed silica gel for Wakogel® series and spherical silica gel for Wakosil® series.

2. Chemical Modification

Chemical modification is to bind various functional groups to silanol groups on the surface of silica gel to change silica gel functions. C18 modified silica gel (ODS) is an octadecyl group-bound silica gel and is suitable for reverse-phase chromatography. NH2 modified silica gel is an aminopropyl group-bound silica gel and is suitable for normal-phase, hydrophilic interaction, and ion exchange chromatography. Unmodified silica gel is mainly used for normal-phase chromatography.

3. Particle Size

The larger the particle size, the more suitable for open columns, and the smaller the particle size, the more suitable for flash chromatography or HPLC.

4. Pore Size and Specific Surface Area

The smaller the pore size, the larger the specific surface area of silica gel and the higher resolution of small molecules. On the other hand, the larger the pore size, the higher the resolution of high molecules such as proteins. Suitable pore size must be selected so that sample molecules retain the silica gels well.

More Information

Flow Chart for Selection of Silica Gel

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Particle Size Distribution Table

The smaller the particle size, the higher the resolution. However, the analysis time becomes longer due to slow flow rate. On the other hand, the larger the particle size, the flow speed becomes faster, and the behavior is suitable for open columns.

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List of Physical Properties for each Silica Gel Grade

Silica gel for general purpose (unmodified)
Product Name Shape Size Pore Size Pore Capacity Specific Area pH Intended Use Features
Wakosil® 60 series
Wakosil® 60, 38~63 μm Spherical 38~63 μm 6 nm - 450~550 m2/g 6.2~7.5 Open column, low pressure,
flash chromatography
This series has a smaller pore size than Wakogel® C series.
Therefore, it is suitable for large-scale fractionation and purification owing to
its high retention performance.
Because of spherical silica gel, it is expected to improve
resolution and reproducibility compared with crushed types.
Product name: 60 = pore size
Shape: Totally porous spherical silica gel with a pore size of 6 nm
Use: Open column, low pressure, flash chromatography
Wakosil® 60, 64 µm~210 μm 64~210 μm - Open column
Wakogel® 60N series
Wakogel® 60N, 38 ~100 µm Crushed 38~100 µm 6 nm 0.85 mL/g 550 m2/g 6.5~7.5 Open column, low pressure,
flash chromatography
This series has a smaller pore size than Wakogel® C series.
Therefore, it is suitable for large-scale fractionation and purification owing to
its high retention performance.
Product name: 60 = pore size
Shape: Crushed silica gel with a pore size of 6 nm
Use : Open column, low pressure, flash chromatography
Wakogel® 60N, 63 ~212 µm 63~212 µm Open column
Wakogel® 60N, 150 ~425 µm 150~425 µm Open column
Wakogel® C series
Wakogel® C-100 Crushed 150~425 µm 7 nm 0.8 mL/g 450 m2/g 5.5~7.0 Open column This series is the most common silica gel of FUJIFILM Wako.
Product name: The number after C- = mesh size which silica gel passes
Shape: Totally porous spherical silica gel
Use: Open column, low pressure, flash chromatography
Wakogel® C-200 75~150 µm 5.5~7.0 Open column
Wakogel® C-300 45~75 µm 5.5~7.5 Open column, low pressure,
flash chromatography
Wakogel®C series E (economy) type
Wakogel® C-200E Crushed 75~150 µm 7 nm 0.8 mL/g 450 m2/g 5.5~7.5 Open column This series has a reasonable price by partially changing
the manufacturing process, even though it has the same specifications,
including particle size, as Wakogel® C series.
Product name: The number after C- = mesh size which silica gel passes
Shape: Totally porous spherical silica gel
Use: Open column, low pressure, flash chromatography
Wakogel® C-300E 45~75 µm Open column, low pressure,
flash chromatography
Wakogel® C series HG (high grade) type
Wakogel® C-300HG Crushed 40~60 µm 7 nm 0.8 mL/g 450 m2/g 6.0~7.5 Open column, low pressure,
flash chromatography
This series is high-grade silica gel with a smaller particle size
and a sharp particle size distribution compared
with Wakogel® C series.
Product name: The number after C- = mesh size which silica gel passes
Shape: Totally porous spherical silica gel
Use: Open column, medium and low pressure, flash chromatography
Wakogel® C-400HG 20~40 µm Medium and low pressure,
flash chromatography
Wakogel® C-500HG 5~20 µm 6.0~7.0 Medium and low pressure,
flash chromatography
Wakogel® FC
Wakogel® FC-40 Crushed 20~40 µm 7 nm 0.8 mL/g 450 m2/g - Flash chromatography Silica gel specialized for flash chromatography
with a smaller particle size and a sharp particle size distribution.
Product name: The number after FC- = particle size
Shape: Crushed silica gel
Use: Flash chromatography
Wakosil® HC-N
Wakosil® HC-N Spherical 35~63 µm 3 nm 0.6 mL/g 780 m2/g 6.5~7.5 Open column, medium pressure,
flash chromatography
This silica gel has larger specific surface area than that of Wakosil® C series.
Because of its high retention performance,
it has large sample load capacity and high resolution.
Shape: Spherical silica gel
Use: Open column, medium pressure, flash chromatography
Silica gel for HPLC columns used for normal-phase chromatography (unmodified)
Product Name Shape Size Pore Size Pore Capacity Specific Area pH Intended Use Features
Wakosil® 5SIL series
Wakosil® 5SIL Spherical 4.0~6.0 μm 6 nm - 500 m²/g 1.0~4.0 Silicagel for HPLC columns
used for normal-phase chromatography
Silica gel for HPLC columns used for normal-phase chromatography.
Product name: The number after 5SIL- = pore size
Shape: Totally porous spherical silica gel
Use: HPLC column packing agent used for normal-phase chromatography
Wakosil® 5SIL-120 12 nm 300 m²/g
Silica gel for general purpose (NH2 modified)
Product Name Shape Size Pore Size Pore Capacity Specific Area pH Intended Use Features
Wakogel® 50NH2
Wakogel® 50NH2 Crushed 38~63 μm 6.5 nm 0.7 mL/g 450 m2/g 8.5~11.5 Open column, medium pressure,
flash chromatography
Silica gel chemically modified with an aminopropyl group
and is suitable for separation and purification in normal-phase,
hydrophilic interaction, and ion exchange chromatography.
It also has the features that it can fractionate
sugars and suppress tailing of basic compounds.
Shape: Crushed silica gel modified with an aminopropyl group
Use: Open column, medium pressure, flash chromatography
Wakosil® 50NH2 
Wakosil® 50NH2 (HC) Spherical 35~63 μm - - 900 m2/g 8.5~11.5 Open column, medium pressure,
flash chromatography
Silica gel chemically modified with an aminopropyl group
and is suitable for separation and purification in normal-phase,
hydrophilic interaction, and ion exchange chromatography.
It also has the features that it can fractionation of sugars
and suppress tailing of basic compounds.
Because its specific surface area is larger than Wakogel® 50NH2,
it has high retention performance and large sample loading capacity.
Shape: Spherical silica gel modified with an aminopropyl group
Use: Open column, medium pressure, flash chromatography
Silica gel for general purpose (C18 modified)
Product Name Shape Size Pore Size Pore Capacity Specific Area pH Intended Use Features
Wakosil® C18 series
Wakosil® 25C18 (1530 μm 70% up) Spherical 15~30 μm 12 nm 1 mL/g 330 m2/g - Open column, medium pressure,
flash chromatography
Silica gel chemically modified with a C18 group (ODS).
It is suitable for separation and purification in reverse-phase chromatography,
and a wide range of eluents from organic solvents
to aqueous solutions can be used.
Product name: The number before C18 = the particle size
Shape: Spherical silica gel modified with a C18 group (ODS)
Use: Open column, medium pressure, flash chromatography
Wakosil® 40C18 (3050 μm 70% up) 30〜50 μm
Wakosil® 50C18 38~75 μm 1.2 mL/g 280 m2/g
Wakosil® 100C18 63~212 μm 300 m2/g Open column
Silica gel for HPLC columns used for reverse-phase chromatography (C18)
Product Name Shape Size Pore Size Pore Capacity Specific Area pH Intended Use Features
Wakosil® C18 series
Wakosil® 5C18 Spherical 5 μm 15 nm 1.2 mL/g 300 m²/g 2.0~7.5 Silica gel for HPLC columns
used for reverse-phase
This is the most common C18 group-modified silica gel (ODS)
for HPLC columns used for reverse-phase chromatography.
Product name: The number before C18 = particle size, -200 = Pore size 200Å (20 nm)
Shape: Spherical silica gel modified with C18 group (ODS)
Use: HPLC columns packing agent for reverse-phase chromatography
Wakosil® 10C18-200 Spherical 10 μm 20 nm 1 mL/g 200 m²/g
Wakosil® C18 RS series
Wakosil®-II 3C18 RS Spherical 3.0~3.7 μm 9.5~11.5 nm 0.95~1.10 mL/g 390~430 m²/g 2.0~7.5 Silica gel for HPLC columns
used for reverse-phase
This series is the C18 group-modified silica gel (ODS)
for HPLC columns used for reverse-phase chromatography.
Because its specific surface area is larger than that of Wakosil® 5C18,
this series has a high retention function and separability of highly polar compounds.
Product name: The number before C18 = particle size
Shape: Spherical silica gel modified with C18 group (ODS)
Use: HPLC columns packing agent for reverse-phase chromatography
Wakosil®-II 5C18 RS Spherical 4.2~4.7 μm 11~13 nm 1.15~1.30 mL/g 390~430 m²/g
Wakosil® C18 HG
Wakosil®-II 3C18 HG Spherical 3.2~3.7 μm 11~13 nm 0.85~1.00 mL/g 280~320 m²/g 2.0~7.5 Silica gel for HPLC columns used
for reverse-phase
This series is the C18 group-modified silica gel (ODS)
for HPLC columns used for reverse-phase chromatography.
This silica gel has the highest number of theoretical plates of the C18 series
and is suitable for separating basic compounds and metal coordination compounds.
Product name: The number before C18 = particle size
Shape: Spherical silica gel modified with C18 group (ODS)
Use: HPLC columns packing agent for reverse-phase chromatography
For preparation of TLC plate
Product Name Shape Size Pore Size Pore Capacity Specific Area pH Intended Use Features
Wakogel® B series
Wakogel® B-0 Crushed 45 μm - - - 6.5~7.5 For preparation of TLC plate Silica gel for preparation of plates for thin-layer chromatography (TLC).
By following the predetermined procedure,
TLC can be prepared on a glass plate.
Product name: The number after B- = content of the binder
F = single fluorescent indicator is added
FM = 3 fluorescent indicators mixture is added
Shape: Crushed silica gel
Use: For preparation of TLC plate
Wakogel® B-5F
Wakogel® B-5 FM
For analysis of dioxins
Product Name Shape Size Pore
Size
Pore
Capacity
Specific
Area
pH Intended Use Features
Wakogel® DX
Wakogel® DX Crushed 75~150 μm - - - - For analysis of dioxins Silica gel which is guaranteed a low concentration of dioxins
by testing ‘‘Suitability for dioxins determination”.
Shape: Crushed silica gel
Use: For analysis of dioxins
For analysis and separation/purification of petrochemical products
Product Name Shape Size Pore
Size
Pore
Capacity
Specific
Area
pH Intended Use Features
Wakogel® Q series
Wakogel® Q-12 Crushed 75~600 µm - - - 4.0~6.0 For analysis and separation/purification
of petrochemical products
Silica gel for analysis of petrochemical products specific to
separation and purification of aromatic hydrocarbons and olefins.
Product name: The number after Q- = corresponding Davison’s product grade
Shape: Crushed silica gel
Use: For analysis and separation/purification of petrochemical products
Wakogel® Q-22 max. 75 µm
Wakogel® Q-23 75~150 µm
Wakogel® Q-50 75~250 µm
Wakogel® Q-63 max. 45 µm
For analysis of PCB
Product Name Shape Size Pore
Size
Pore
Capacity
Specific
Area
pH Intended Use Features
Wakogel® S-1
Wakogel® S-1 Crushed 63~425 µm - - - 4.5~6.5 For analysis of PCB Silica gel specific to separate PCBs and organochlorine pesticides.
Shape: Crushed silica gel
Use: For analysis of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides

For research use or further manufacturing use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Product content may differ from the actual image due to minor specification changes etc.

If the revision of product standards and packaging standards has been made, there is a case where the actual product specifications and images are different.

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