SEPSERV

Separation Service Berlin
Helmholtzstr. 2 - 9, Aufg. L, D-10587 Berlin
Anfahrt/Approach

Tel.:  (030) 393 09 91    Fax: (030) 393 49 25  oder  391 01 000

Protection of HPLC Columns against Mechanical Pollution

For a trouble-free function of HPLC columns it is essential, to remove solid  pollutions from the eluent  (buffer solutions), from samples and equipment (abrasion). This can be achieved by filtration of the eluent and the sample, as well as by Guard Columns and Precolumns .

Guard Columns

It is really impressive, how much "mud" accumulates within these filter columns despite careful purification and filtration of the eluent. This mud would land in the injection valve and above all in the separation column. This is the reason for the often observed continuous rising of the column pressure and a decrease of the plate number of the main column.

Our Guard Columns are 33 x 4.6 mm steel columns filled with an universal packing and 1/16" fittings for capillary tubes. These columns take the function of eluent filters befor the injection valve or the mixing chamber. In contradiction to simple filters they do not block, because the mud particles separate three-dimensional and not in a plane. Therefore the pollution of the guard columns leads only during a longer use to a (small) pressure rise, so that they have to be replaced very seldom. Use guard column also in cases, where precolumn cartridges are employed for the determination of samples.