How to care for your Waters HPLC column
Posted by Brian Miller on February 14th, 2016
HPLC columns and GC columns are used in analytical chemistry to identify, separate and quantify components in a given mixture. Separating of compounds is done from a liquid stationary phase to a gas mobile phase in an Agilent GC column, whereas, it is done from a solid stationary phase to a liquid mobile phase in a Waters HPLC column. Caring properly for your columns is extremely essential to extend the life of the item. This will ultimately keep your analyses work uninterrupted and accurate.
Caring for a Waters HPLC column is dependent on chromatographic support such as polymer or silica and on the surface chemistry of the stationary phase. While working with silica HPLC columns, it is important to keep in mind the pH stability. The best pH values are from 2.0 to 6.8, and if you require using a pH above 8.0, then a polymer base is more advisable. In case of long-term storage, silica columns need to be stored in a protic solvent. For extending the lifetime of an Agilent GC column, it is important to not let it touch other samples as it may contaminate the stationary phase. This will lower the accuracy of results and cause multiple peak resolutions.
If an Agilent GC column is damaged, then getting rid of the ruined part will restore it for a while. However, over time the column’s performance will be lowered and it will no longer be of use. Protect your column with proper sample separation and shield the column using guards. If your Waters HPLC column is contaminated, then flushing using a neat organic solvent might regenerate it, only if you take care to not precipitate buffers. If flushing has no effect, then purge the column in solvents and adopt a cleaning routine which suits the properties of the solvents you use. It is ideal to use five column volumes of intermediate solvent for washing.
To prevent any sort of contamination, use woolen liners made of silanized glass wool, to protect an Agilent GC column. This traps the non-volatile compounds and stops them from harming the column. At the end of a GC method, subject the column to a short and high temperature to remove contaminants which would otherwise stagnate in it. When cleaning out a Waters HPLC column, use only HPLC grade solvents. To discourage bacterial growth, utilize freshly prepared aqueous mobile phases and an in-line filter system. Perform a sample clean up on dirty samples.
The HPLC and GC columns are important elements in gas chromatography. A Waters HPLC column or an Agilent GC column finds application in manufacturing, research, legal and medical purposes. The column is used for separating, identifying and testing the purity of a compound. For best results, it is essential to care of the columns and ensure their proper storage. The easiest way to do this is to prevent any contamination and protect the columns. It is important to wash out and clean up the columns after every use, using procedures which match the solvents in use. Choose a resourceful vendor who not only keeps you well stocked, but promises overnight delivery and all the valuable advice you could use in ensuring safe upkeep of your assets.
To increase the lifetime of your Agilent GC column use guards for protection. To prevent contamination of a Waters HPLC column ensure proper storage.
