Solvent manager loss of flow/pressure - WKB73470

SYMPTOMS

• Loss of flow/pressure isolated to one or two solvent lines.
• Priming pressure traces look normal for some solvent lines but not all.
• Suspect solvent lines are in aqueous-based mobile phases.

ENVIRONMENT

• ACQUITY QSM
• ACQUITY BSM
• ACQUITY UPLC M-Class

CAUSE

Air bubble.

FIX or WORKAROUND

1. Switch lines with aqueous-based mobile phases to 100% MeOH. If aqueous-based mobile phases have additives, ensure that they are miscible in 100% MeOH. If not, use 100% water as an intermediate step when going from mobile phase to MeOH and back from MeOH to mobile phase to prevent anything precipitating out and causing clogs.
2. Prime with 100% MeOH until pressure traces look normal.
3. Once suspect lines prime as expected, switch solvent lines back to mobile phase and prime again, ensuring that the priming pressure traces remain normal.
4. Set a flow after priming and ensure that pressure is normal and stable.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION