Bio-Rad Aminex Organic Acid and Alcohol Analysis Columns User Manual
Page 4
efficiency. This guide for the care of resin-based columns will help to provide higher
resolution, longer column life, and better reproducibility.
Section 2
Column Set-Up
2.1 Unpacking
While unpacking the column, check it carefully for evidence of shipping damage, rough
handling, or leaking solvent. Save the shipping container to store the column. If there is
evidence of damage, immediately notify the carrier and contact Bio-Rad Technical
Service at 1-800-4BIORAD, or your local Bio-Rad office.
2.2 Preparing the Eluant
Only fresh distilled deionized water, analytical grade reagents, and high quality
organic solvents should be used for eluant preparation. The prepared eluant should
be filtered through a 0.45 µm filter before use, to eliminate insoluble particles which
could clog the system inlet filter. Poor baseline stability is often caused by dirty
mobile phase. Thoroughly degas the prepared eluant prior to use.
The best method for degassing solvent is a method which uses both vacuum and
ultrasonics. Vacuum degassing alone will work, but requires a longer time. A
stirring bar in the vacuum flask helps to facilitate the release of gas from the
solvent. Filtering alone will not remove all the gas. The flask used to degas the
solvent could also be used as the reservoir. A 1 liter vacuum filtering flask works
well. Pouring degassed solvent into another reservoir will only add gas to the
eluant. Switching between aqueous and organic solvents is especially likely to
cause outgassing. Be sure that both solvents are thoroughly degassed.
Section 3
Guard Columns
Guard columns have been an accepted part of HPLC technology for a number of
years because of the role they play in protecting both the analytical column and the
HPLC system. Micro-Guard
®
cartridges not only extend the lifetime of the analytical
column, but also provide a convenient method for in-line sample preparation.
Contaminants which interfere with analytical separations, as well as compounds
which foul the analytical columns, can be removed with these cartridges.
2
Lit42D.qxd 11/29/2005 2:23 PM Page 2