Global life sciences major Merck has unveiled a first-of-its-kind portfolio of bio-based solvents designed for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), marking a significant push toward greener analytical chemistry without sacrificing lab performance.
The new solvents are manufactured from renewable feedstocks and are patent-pending in key components. On average, they deliver 25.9% lower CO₂ equivalents compared to conventional fossil-based HPLC-grade solvents, while maintaining the precision required for demanding analytical workflows.
“Our new bio-based HPLC solvents represent the next generation of high-performance liquid chromatography,” said Karen Madden, Chief Technology Officer, Life Science business of Merck.
“Customers are looking for solutions that help reduce environmental impact without compromising performance quality. This innovative portfolio aims to deliver the precision, quality and reliability expected in HPLC and is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing methods.”
Crucially, the solvents are engineered as drop-in replacements for widely used acetonitrile, methanol and ethanol, and are fully compatible with existing HPLC and LC-MS systems. That means laboratories can adopt them without revalidating or redeveloping analytical methods—often a major bottleneck in regulated environments.
Used in everything from drug development and manufacturing quality control to environmental testing and diagnostics, HPLC relies on solvent-based separation to generate reliable analytical data. Merck says the new portfolio strengthens its broader strategy to deliver more sustainable laboratory solutions while preserving scientific rigor.
