How to flush a clogged HPLC flow cell - WKB1930
Article number: 1930
OBJECTIVE or GOAL
- Unclog an HPLC flow cell
- How to reverse flush a flow cell?
ENVIRONMENT
- 2487 Dual-Wavelength Absorbance Detector
- 996/2996 PDA Detector
- 2489 UV/Vis Detector
- 2998 Photodiode Array Detector
- 2414 Refractive Index Detector
PROCEDURE
- Prepare a suitable solvent or 6M nitric acid solution.
A suitable solvent depends on the nature of the blockage and on which detector. Some blockages require warm water, methanol, or nitric acid. A customer should consult their detector's user manual to determine a suitable solvent for flushing.
- Remove the solvent filter and prime the system.
- Replace the column with a union.
- Reverse the flow cell inlet and outlet lines.
- Start the flow at a very low rate, ensuring that the back pressure remains below the maximum rating (1000 psi for UV, 100 psi for RI) for the flow cell.
- Flush at a low flow for at least one hour.
- Flush with HPLC grade water until the effluent returns to neutral.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This is outlined section 4.3.1 Flushing the Flow Cell of the 2487 Dual-Wavelength Absorbance Detector Operator's Guide
id1930, 2414, 2414B, 2487, 2489, 2489B, 2489SFC, 2996, 2998, 2998B, 2998SFC, 996, 996UP, A-10PDA, A-10RI, A-10UV