SMT-Diol columns are developed as an alternative for silica columns used in normal phase separation methods. The Diol [-OH] functional group is controlled, and as such, provides more reproducible separation when compared to separation on silanols [-OH] from bare silica surface. Furthermore, the hydrogen bonding on the OH functional group on Diol packing material is not as strong as that of bare silica. This results in a reduced interaction of polar compounds on the column. SMT-Diol can be used in normal and reversed-phase separation of pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceutical metabolites, polar natural products, proteins, peptides and other polar biomolecules.