User Manual

[ CARE AND USE MANUAL ]
ACQUITY UPLC CSH130 C
18
Columns 8
VI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONA.
Tips for maximizing ACQUITY UPLC CSH130 C
18
Column Lifetimes
1. To maximize ACQUITY UPLC CSH130 C
18
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”oradding“new”mobilephaseto“old”mobilephase.
 • Oldaqueousmobilephases.Remembertorinsebottlesthoroughlyand
prepare fresh every 24-48 hours.
 • 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 back pressure 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: UPLC flow rates are often much lower and, therefore,
mobile phases last much longer (only prepare what you need or store
excess refrigerated).
7. Mobile-phase related questions to ask:
 • AmIusing100%aqueousmobilephases?AmIabletoadd
  asmallamountoforganicmodifiertomymobile-phaseA?
 • DoIfiltermyaqueousmobilephasesthrough0.2µmfilters?
 • Howoldismymobilephase?DoIlabelthebottlewithpreparationdate?
 • DoI“topoff”ordoIpreparefreshmobilephasesevery24-48hours?
 • Whatisthequalityofmywater?Hasthequalityrecentlychanged?How
  ismywaterpurificationsystemworking?Whenwasitlastserviced?
 • AmIworkingwithapH7phosphatebuffer(whichisVERYsusceptible
  tobacterialgrowth)?
8. Sample-related questions to ask:
 • IfIinjectneatstandardspreparedinmobilephasedoIobserve
  theseproblems?
 • IfIpreparemystandardsinwaterandpreparethemlikesamples
  (e.g.,SPE,filtration,etc.)doIstillobservetheseproblems?
 • Hasthequalityofmysampleschangedovertime?