1260 Infinity Binary LC - System User Guide 107
Appendix
6
Solvent Information
Tantalum (Ta)
Tantalum is inert to most common HPLC solvents and almost all acids
except fluoric acid and acids with free sulfur trioxide. It can be corroded
by strong bases (e.g. hydroxide solutions > 10 %, diethylamine). It is not
recommended for the use with fluoric acid and fluorides.
Stainless Steel (SST)
Stainless steel is inert against many common solvents. It is stable in the
presence of acids and bases in a pH range of 1 to 12.5. It can be corroded
by acids below pH 2.3. It can also corrode in following solvents:
• Solutions of alkali halides, their respective acids (for example, lithium
iodide, potassium chloride, and so on) and aqueous solutions of
halogens.
• High concentrations of inorganic acids like nitric acid, sulfuric acid and
organic solvents especially at higher temperatures (replace, if your
chromatography method allows, by phosphoric acid or phosphate buffer
which are less corrosive against stainless steel).
• Halogenated solvents or mixtures which form radicals and/or acids, for
example:
2 CHCl
3
+ O
2
→ 2 COCl
2
+ 2 HCl
This reaction, in which stainless steel probably acts as a catalyst,
occurs quickly with dried chloroform if the drying process removes the
stabilizing alcohol.
• Chromatographic grade ethers, which can contain peroxides (for
example, THF, dioxane, di- isopropylether). Such ethers should be
filtered through dry aluminium oxide which adsorbs the peroxides.
• Solutions of organic acids (acetic acid, formic acid, and so on) in
organic solvents. For example, a 1 % solution of acetic acid in methanol
will attack steel.
• Solutions containing strong complexing agents (for example, EDTA,
ethylene diamine tetra- acetic acid).
• Mixtures of carbon tetrachloride with 2- propanol or THF.