Figure 4. Calibration Curves for Waters Styragel HMW Columns
Styragel® HMW
Elution Volume (mL)
Styragel® HMW 2
Styragel
Styragel
Molecular Weight
®
HMW 6E
®
HMW 7
• Efficiency testing
a. Troubleshooting
Table 3 describes specific problems, causes, and corrective actions.
Table 3. Column Troubleshooting
ProblemCauseCorrective Action
Buildup in system operating
pressure
Loss of resolution, broad peaks,
low plate counts
Styragel Columns7
Inlet filter insert (from the first column only) plugged with par-
ticulates Injector and pump seal shedding
Clogged tubingReplace the tubing
Filter inserts partially blocked
Failing injectorRepair the injector
Insufficient equilibriumContinue equilibrium
Column damagedReplace column
Replace the inlet filter insert.
Install a Styragel Guard column.
Fit an in-line filter between the pump and the
first column.
Replace or clean inlet
and/or outlet filter inserts
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Diluted/Distorted Sample Band
b. Storing the Column
If you will be using the column again in less than 24 hours, special storage
procedures are unnecessary. However, be sure that the columns never dry out.
For longer storage periods, return the column to its box with the end plugs
firmly in place for storage. Do not leave a column at elevated temperatures
without solvent flow.
For maximum column life, avoid temperature cycling. Maintain operating
temperature and reduce flow rate to 0.1 mL/min when columns are not in use.
To restart the column, maintain a flow rate of 0.1 mL/min and, if applicable,
increase the temperature gradually over 10 hours. Then set the flow rate to
the desired operating flow.
c. Efficiency Testing
Waters columns are tested for adherence to our specifications. Slight variations
may occur depending on:
• The type and condition of equipment used
• The nature of the sample
1) Testing Instrument Band Spreading
Test procedure
The band spreading of a properly operating system should be less than
150 µL (75 µL for solvent efficient columns). To determine the band spreading
of your system:
1. Remove the column(s) from the system.
2. Connect the inlet and outlet tubing with a zero dead-volume
union.
3. Set the flow rate to 1.0 mL/min.
4. Use a fast chart speed to obtain a peak of easily measurable
width. If you use a data system, set the sampling rate to at least
10 data points per second. You may need to adjust the detector
sensitivity to keep the peak on scale.
Figure 5. Method for Calculating Band Spreading
Add calculation N= 25 (Vr/W)^2
• Instrument settings
Perform your own efficiency tests. To test both your system and each column
in the system, carry out both of these tests:
• Instrument band-spreading test
• Column-efficiency test
When to perform efficiency tests
Perform efficiency tests each time you add columns or otherwise change your
system. Then, as you use the system, conduct efficiency tests on a regular
schedule.
If problems occur during normal operation of the column, repeat the conditions
for the initial efficiency tests and compare the results. Monitor instrument
band spreading by performing a column efficiency test without the column in
line. Resolve excessive band spreading before installing columns.
5. Inject the same sample as for a plate count determination (see
Table 4, 5, or 6).
6. Measure the width of the resulting peak at 4.4% of the peak height
to obtain a value in µL.
Figure 5 illustrates the 5 sigma method, in which the width of the peak (w) is
measured at 4.4% of the peak height (h).
Styragel Columns8
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2) Column Efficiency Test
The column-efficiency test described below may be used to calculate a theoreti-
cal plate count, which is a measurement of column efficiency within your system.
Solvents
It is not necessary to use the solvent that your column is shipped in to deter-
mine the efficiency of your column. Initial plate counts that are determined
using different solvents will have different values. Test columns individually
using your normal operating solvent.
Test procedure
To perform a column efficiency test:
1. Slowly increase the flow rate to 1.0 mL/min for the HR 0.5,
HR 1, HR 2, and HR 4E columns, or to 2.0 mL/min for all
other columns.
2. Adjust the detector to an attenuation that achieves a peak of 70
percent full scale (noise level <0.5 percent full scale).
3. Set the recorder chart speed to 50 mm/min, or the data system
sampling rate to at least 5 data points per second.
4. Inject up to 20 µL of marker solution. Use a solution of up to 10
percent marker in solvent. Use up to 5 µL for solvent efficient
columns.
Refer to Table 4, Table 5, or Table 6 for the marker to use when performing
the efficiency test.
5. Record the retention time, instrument settings, and column con-
figuration so you can reproduce them exactly for comparison in
the future.
6. Compute the plate count using the tangent method (see
Figure 6). Use these results for comparison throughout the life
of your column.
7. Replace any column that exhibits a plate count more than 30
percent below the original value.
Table 4. Conditions and sample for 7.8 mm for Column Efficiency Test:
HR Columns
Column
Type
HR 0.5AcetonePropylbenzeneEthyleneglycol1.0
HR 1AcetonePropylbenzeneEthyleneglycol1.0
HR 2AcetonePropylbenzeneEthyleneglycol1.0
HR 3ODCBAcetoneAcetone2.0
HR 4ODCBAcetoneAcetone2.0
HR 4EAcetonePropylbenzeneEthyleneglycol1.0
HR 5EDCHP
1
TolueneTHFDMF
2
AcetoneAcetone2.0
Flow Rate
mL/min
Dicyclohexylphthalate
Table 5. Conditions and Sample for 4.6 mm Column Efficiency Test:
HR Columns
Column
Type
HR 0.5ODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 1ODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 2ODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 3ODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 4ODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 4EODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 5E
TolueneTHFDMF
Marker
DCHP
Flow Rate
(mL/min)
2
0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
Marker
Flow Rate
(mL/min)
Marker
Flow Rate
(mL/min)
Styragel Columns9
[ Care and Use ManUal ]
Table 6. Conditions and sample for 7.8 mm for Column Efficiency Test:
HT Columns1
Column TypeTolueneTHFDMF
HT 3ODCBAcetoneAcetone2.0
HT 4ODCBAcetoneAcetone2.0
HT 5ODCBAcetoneAcetone2.0
HT 6DCHPAcetoneAcetone2.0
HT 6EDCHPAcetoneAcetone2.0
Flow Rate
(mL/min)
Table 7. Conditions and sample for 4.6 mm for Column Efficiency Test:
HT Columns1
Column
Type
HR 3ODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 4ODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 5ODCB0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 6DCHP0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
HR 6E
TolueneTHFDMF
Flow Rate
Marker
(mL/min)
DCHP0.3Acetone0.3Acetone0.3
Marker
Flow Rate
(mL/min)
Marker
Flow Rate
(mL/min)
Table 8. Test Condition and Sample for Efficiency Test 7.8 mm HMW
Columns
Column TypeTolueneTHFDMF
HMW 7DCHPAcetoneAcetone2.0
HMW 6EDCHPAcetoneAcetone2.0
Flow Rate
(mL/min)
Figure 6. Tangent Method for Calculating Column Efficiency
N = 16 (tR/w)2
tR = Elution distance from injection point to the peak
apex on the chart paper.
W= Peak width of marker measured where tangents
drawn on peak intersect baseline (same units as tRj.