Column Withered /
Column
Dried
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When running HPLC overnight, you may come in the morning to find the
mobile phase has run out. You may worry that the column has dried
out, but this is usually not an issue.
When the mobile phase
reservoir empties and air enters the pump head, the plunger cannot
expel the air and just spins freely, causing the mobile phase to
stop moving before the column.
This means that even if the mobile
phase runs out, the column will not immediately dry out.
To
remove air from the flow path, you can remove the column, directly
connect the line, and purge it with the mobile phase to resolve the
issue.
But, is it never possible for the column to dry out?
If a silica-based HPLC column doesn't have end-plugs, or if the
plugs are not tightly secured, the column can dry out.
When the
column dries, the packing material inside can shrink, changing its
state and leading to a loss in column performance.
While it's
generally advisable to replace the column, there may be instances
where it can be revived using the following method:
Run
acetonitrile through the column for about 10 minutes, then replace
it with the mobile phase and conduct an analysis.
If the
analysis results are satisfactory, you can infer that the column has
been revived. However, if you observe peak tailing or broadning,
it means the column has not been successfully revived. In this case,
your only option is to replace it with a new column.
It is
important to use end-plugs when storing the column. |
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