Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH Glycan, 1.7 µm Columns, Glycan Performance Test Standard - Manual (Page 7)

[ CARE AND USE MANUAL ]
ACQUITY UPLC BEH Glycan, 1.7 �m Columns 7
V. COLUMN CLEANING, REGENERATION, AND STORAGE
a. Cleaning and Regeneration
Changes in peak shape, peak splitting, shoulders on the peak,
shifts in retention, change in resolution, carryover, ghost peaks,
or increasing backpressure may indicate contamination of the
column. Choose a cleaning option that may be expected to dissolve
the suspected contaminant.
1. All cleaning procedures will be more effective at higher
temperatures. It is reasonable to conduct cleaning at 70 ˚C.
2. It may be useful to conduct cleaning procedures at one-half
the flow rate typically used with that column. In this way, the
possibility of high pressure events is reduced.
3. The first and simplest cleaning procedure is to run a series of
gradients from 0-100% water. Be sure to reduce the flow rate
for gradients with higher than 75% aqueous content. Columns
of 150 mm length should be operated at 250 µL per minute or
less during washes. The gradients can be as short as 5 column
volumes and 3-5 repetitions may be effective.
4. Several different cleaning solutions may be injected to strip
strongly adsorbed material or particulates from the column. Make
the largest injection possible with the system configuration. With
such strong cleaning solutions, it is best to disconnect the detector
from the column and to direct the flow to waste.
5. Flow reversal or backflushing is often suggested as part of a
cleaning procedure. This should be reserved as a last resort.
It may further damage the column or provide a short-lived
improvement in performance.
b. Storage
For periods longer than four days at room temperature, store the
column in 100% acetonitrile. Immediately after use with elevated
temperatures and/or at pH extremes, store in 100% acetonitrile for
the best column lifetime. Do not store columns in highly aqueous
(<50 % organic) mobile phases, as this may promote bacterial growth.
If the mobile phase contained a buffer salt, flush the column with
10 column volumes of HPLC grade water (see Table 1 for common
column volumes) and replace with 100% acetonitrile for storage.
Failure to perform this intermediate step could result in precipitation
of the buffer salt in the column or system when 100% acetonitrile
is introduced. Completely seal the column to avoid evaporation and
drying out the bed.
Note: If a column has been run with a mobile phase that contains
formate (e.g., ammonium formate, formic acid, etc.) and is then
flushed with 100% acetonitrile, slightly longer equilibration times
may be necessary when the column is re-installed and run again
with a formate-containing mobile phase.
VI. INTRODUCING eCORD INTELLIGENT CHIP TECHNOLOGY
a. Introduction
The eCord intelligent chip provides the history of a column’s
performance throughout its lifetime. The eCord is permanently
attached to the column to assure that the column’s performance
history is maintained in the event that the column is moved from
one instrument to another.
Figure 3: eCord Intelligent Chip.
At the time of manufacture, tracking and quality control information
will be downloaded to the eCord. This includes the conditions and results
for the Performance Test Chromatogram. Storing this information on the
chip will eliminate the need for a paper Certificate of Analysis. Once the
user installs the column, the software will automatically download key
parameters into a column history file stored on the chip. In this manual,
we explain how the eCord will provide a solution for easily tracking the
history of the column, reduce the frustration of paperwork trails,
and give customers the reassurance that a well performing column
is installed onto their instruments.