Dispersion 2-3
• Filter buffers with a 0.2-μm filter membrane.
• Keep concentrated stock solutions, to use when preparing working
solutions.
• Do not add fresh buffer to old, which can promote microbial growth.
• Make fresh buffer solutions daily.
• Do not block the degasser vent line. Trim the tubing, if necessary.
• Do not submerge the waste or degasser vent lines in liquid. (See the
ACQUITY UPLC Binary Solvent Manager Operator’s Overview and
Maintenance Information for details on how to route the tubing.)
• Flush buffers from the system, using water, immediately after you are
done with them.
• Use 10-20% organic solvent in water as a storage solvent, if you keep the
system idle for extended periods (longer than 24 hours).
• Keep the seal-wash line primed.
• Prime solvent lines during system startup.
• Keep all solvent lines primed.
• Monitor the waste level, to ensure that it is never too high.
• When starting the binary solvent manager, ensure solvent flows through
pump A and pump B. Do not specify a 0 mL/min flow rate at startup for
either pump.
• Use the Load Ahead option when you desire a shorter cycle time.
• If you experience problems with carryover, do not use the Load Ahead or
Loop Offline options while you are troubleshooting.
• When installing or removing a column, always hold the active
preheater’s reusable compression fitting in place. Rotate the column or
optional in-line filter to install or remove it.
Dispersion
UPLC systems exhibit low dispersion, a fixed, instrument characteristic
measured by the extent of peak broadening, which occurs because of the
system volume.
Small particle chromatography uses small, high efficiency columns. A typical
2.1 × 50 mm UPLC column has an approximate 174-µL volume, compared