6.2-19
Section 6
ApplicAtions
Pinnacle Operators Manual
Pickering Laboratories Inc.
Always wear gloves during the preparation of the reagents. The OPA and Thiofluor™ can cause skin irritation.
Also fingerprints can cause contamination of the reagent. TRIONE
®
will stain skin.
The OPA reagent is sensitive to air oxidation, degrades over time, and should be prepared fresh for optimum
sensitivity. OPA reagent is stable for at least one week when pressurized with inert gas.
Thiofluor™ is extremely hygroscopic. Always keep in a tightly closed container.
The preparation of the OPA Diluent by the user is not recommended because sodium borate (any grades)
contains excessive amounts of heavy metal contaminants and insoluble matter. These impurities will eventually
precipitate in the reactor and flowcell. The one year warranty does not cover damage caused by these
contaminants.
The pre-mixed TRIONE
®
has a shelf life of 3 months*. As it ages, the risk of precipitate formation increases.
Using outdated TRIONE
®
is a major cause of clogging in post-column systems.
Never put new Trione in the bottle containing old reagent. This will cause premature aging of reagent. Always
discard old reagent and clean the bottle before putting new TRIONE
®
in.
As TRIONE
®
ages, the color intensity for primary amines increases by up to 20%. A small drop in sensitivity
when changing to a new lot of TRIONE
®
is not unusual.
Air oxidation of TRIONE
®
causes the intensity for primary amines to decrease, but does not affect the intensity
for secondary amines. This makes secondary amines appear bigger. Also the reagent becomes more yellow
when it is oxidized.
Frequently observe and record the pressures and check for leaks. You may find a problem before it becomes
serious.
Do not operate the heated reactor above the boiling point of the eluant unless the back-pressure regulator
is connected to the waste line of the detector. Boiling inside the reactor can cause precipitates to block the
reactor. Operating above the boiling point without a back pressure regulator will void your warranty.
Note: Before making any change in the gradient, temperature, or other operating conditions, get at least two
chromatograms in a row with the same problem. After you make a change, get at least two chromatograms
showing the same effect of the change. This is especially true when you are trying to optimize gradient
conditions.
To Next Page
Loading...