SMT Urea columns consist of proprietary hydrophilic molecule as the functional ligand. The columns offer water-soluble functionality and selectivities that are different from other reversed-phase or normal phase columns when applied to separation of polar and basic compounds. SMT-Urea columns are specially designed for the separation of extremely basic analytes that are not retained in traditional reversed-phase columns. Unfortunately, these compounds are often the precursors in the development of many useful drug molecules. The ability to isolate and eventually remove traces of these compounds from the drug molecules is crucial to the overall drug discovery process.