Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS Columns - Manual (Page 7)

[ Care and Use ManUal ]
XSelect HSS HPlc columnS 7
d. Column Use Information
the ecord chip provides the customer with column use data. the top
of the screen identifies the column including chemistry type, column
dimensions and serial number. the overall column usage informa-
tion includes the total number of samples, total number of injec-
tions, total sample sets, date of first injection, date of last injection,
maximum pressure and temperature. the information also details
the column history by sample set including date started, sample set
name, user name, system name, number of injections in the sample
set, number of samples in the sample set, maximum pressure and
temperature in the sample set and if the column
V. addItIonal InformatIon
a. Tips for Maximizing ACQUITY UPLC HSS Column Lifetimes
1. to maximize AcQuItY uPlc column lifetime, pay close
attention to:
• Water quality (including water purification system)
• Solvent quality
• Mobile phase preparation, storage and age
• Sample, buffer and mobile phase solubilities
• Sample quality and preparation.
2. When problems arise, often only one improper practice must
be changed.
3. Always remember to:
• Use in-line filter unit or, preferably, a VanGuard
Pre-column.
• Discourage bacterial growth by minimizing the use of
100% aqueous mobile phases where possible.
• Change aqueous mobile phase every 24 – 48 hours
(if 100% aqueous mobile phase use is required).
• Discard old 100% aqueous mobile phases every 24-
48 hours to discourage bacterial growth.
• Add 5% - 10% organic modifier to mobile phase A
and adjust gradient profile.
• Filter aqueous portions of mobile phase through
0.2 µm filter.
• Maintain your water purification system so that it is in
good working order.
• Only use ultra pure water (18 megohm-cm) water and
highest quality solvents possible. HPlc grade water is not
uPlc grade water.
• Consider sample preparation (e.g., solid-phase
extraction, filtration, etc).
4. Avoid (where possible):
• 100% aqueous mobile phases (if possible)
• HPLC-grade bottled water
• “Topping off” your mobile phases
• Old aqueous mobile phases. Remember to rinse bottles
thoroughly and prepare fresh every 24 to 48 hrs
• Using phosphate salt buffer in combination with high
Acn concentrations (e.g., > 70%) due to precipitation.
5. Don’t: assume a “bad” column is the culprit when high
backpressure or split peaks are observed:
• Investigate cause of column failure
• Backpressure
• Mobile phase(s), bacteria, precipitation and/or samples
• Peak splitting
• Sample quality
• Injection solvent strength.
6. Remember: the diameter of uPlc columns (1.0, 2.1 and 3.0 mm
ID) are often lower than that of a conventional HPlc column
and therefore, mobile phases last much longer. to reduce the
chances of mobile-phase contamination or degradation, only
prepare what you need for analysis or store excess bulk quantities
in a refrigerated environment.