HPLC Troubleshooting
If any problem persists during HPLC analysis, don’t scared about it, think of little things there are the basic possible source of chromatographic troubles are Mobile Phase, Column, Guard Column, Pump, Injector, Detector, In-Line Filter, Tubing and fittings. At the beginning of HPLC analysis to follow basic practices like Filter the mobile phase, Sonication, preparation of buffer properly, Purge the system, wash the column and equilibrate it with sufficient time, then start the analysis.
If you pay attention to these things, then you will have low problems during the analysis.Here are mentioned. some troubles and possible reasons and solutions.
TROUBLE | POSSIBLE CAUSES | SOLUTIONS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
No solvent flow | Empty Reservoirs Leakage, Air bubbles | Refill the solvent bottles, Find the leak and repair it, Purge the system | ||
Noisy baseline or spiking on the baseline | Aging of the column Air bubbles Detectors problem | Replace the column Degas the mobile phase, Purge the system Check the detector | ||
Mobile phase leaking | Loose inlet or outlet fittings Loose valve | Tighten the fittings Tightening the check valve | ||
Pressure fluctuation | Dirty check valve Air entrap in the pump The issue with piston seal | Clean the valve Purge the system Check/Replace the seal | ||
Inconsistent Retention time | Flow rate change Problem with column Leakage Air bubble | Check the flow rate Change the column Find and repair the leakage Remove air bubbles | ||
Detector not response | Issue with wavelength Issue with lamp Dirty-flow cell Leakage Mobile phase contaminate | Select the correct wavelength Check the lamp Clean the flow cell Find and repair the leakage Replace the mobile phase | ||
Results are not Reproducible | The issue with column efficiency An issue with the mobile phase An issue with injector valve | Wash and equilibrate the column properly. Prepare fresh mobile phase Check the rotor seal | ||
Broad Peaks | Contaminated guard column Mobile phase composition Buffer pH An issue with column efficiency | Replace/Remove guard column Select the proper composition of Mobile phase Adjust the proper pH of a Buffer Check the column performance | ||
Baseline Drift | Unstable mobile phase Dirty column Issue with lamp | Change with the stable mobile phase Wash/replace the column Check the lamp | ||
High Backpressure | High Flow rate Guard column blocked Improper column Viscous buffer Buffer Precipitate Blocked Injector In line filter clog | Use the proper flow rate Replace/Remove guard column Wash/Replace column Use the correct Mobile phase System wash with warm water Wash blockage Wash with warm water | ||
Low back pressure | Low flow rate Leakage High column temperature Improper column | Use the proper flow rate Find and repair the leakage Set correct the Temperature Wash/Replace column | ||
Peak Tailing | pH of Mobile phase Mobile phase composition Column inefficiency | Use Adjust the proper pH of the mobile phase Select the proper composition of Mobile phase Wash/replace the column | ||
Split peaks | Incompatible Mobile phase Column inefficiency | Change the mobile phase or MP composition Wash/replace the column | ||
Impurities in sample or mobile phase | Impurities in samples or mobile phase Impurities in column | Prepare fresh mobile phase Wash and equilibrate the column |
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