This Information Applies To: Agilent Liquid Chromatography (LC) systems
Issue:
Shutting down the HPLC for a long period requires following this general procedure to prevent damage to the system and the column.
Steps to follow:
- Store the column in an appropriate solvent (check column information sheet)
- When you remove the column, add a column union so the detector gets flushed as well in the following steps.
- For a system in reversed phase -> Purge all lines with hot HPLC-grade water (60 to 70 °C) to remove salts or ACN polymeric by-products.
You may use the following solvents for storing the instrument: 100% HPLC grade IPA (Isopropanol), IPA: Water mix > 10:1 or a (50:50) MeOH: Water mix. No salts should be left in the system. - For a system in Normal phase, do not purge with water -> purge with IPA directly and then move on to store in 100% HPLC grade IPA or IPA: Hexane mix > 10:1.
- Fill all solvent lines with IPA or the storing solvent.
- Plug (or seal) all open connections.
- Emptying waste containers and mobile phase bottles is recommended to avoid any contamination later on.
- Power off all modules and the PC / control software.
- If you have an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD), close all regulators and the gas tank.
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