High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
If the compound is non-volatile or thermally fragile, it cannot be analyzed by the GC, and then the HPLC is an appropriate method of analysis. The Material Characterization Laboratory has several HPLC systems for analysis of UV-absorbing organics. They all have conventional gradient pumping system, autosamplers and variable wavelength UV detector. Photodiode array (PAD) detectors is also available in the lab. The PAD is one of the most informative among available in the laboratory HPLC detectors, since it can collect full UV spectra for each component in the sample.
System #1: Waters Alliance 2690 Separation Module with 2487 Dual Absorbance λ detector. The EzChrom EliteChromatography Data System for data acquisition and processing.
System #2: Waters Alliance 2695 Separation Module with 2489 Dual λ Absorbance detector. Agilent EzChrom Elite Chromatography Data System for data acquisition and processing.
System #3: Waters ACQUITY UPLC system with Autosampler, Photodiode Array detector and Data System. This is the newest acquisition of Material Characterization Laboratory.
TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING HPLC COLUMN LIFETIME:
- Sample Preparation. The cleaner your sample, the longer your column will last. At least, you should filter samples through a 0.45 µm syringe filter to ensure they are free of particles. Also, make sure that all samples are completely soluble in the mobile phase. If you are running a mobile phase gradient, sample solubility should be verified at the low and high extremes of organic content.
- Mobile phase. Always filter mobile phase (especially buffers) through a 0.45 µm membrane. A 0.2 µm filter removes bacteria as well as other particles.