Agilent Technologies and C8, User Manual

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Storage recommendations
Long-term storage of silica-based, bonded phase columns
should be in a pure organic solvent. If the column has
previously been used with a buffered mobile phase, the
buffer should first be removed by purging the column with
20 to 30 column volumes of a 50:50 mixture of methanol
or acetonitrile and water, followed by 20 to 30 column
volumes of the pure solvent. Before storing, end-fittings
should be tightly capped with end-plugs to prevent packing
from drying out. Columns may be safely stored for short
periods in most mobile phases. To protect equipment, is it
desirable to remove salts from the instrument and column
by purging the column with the same mobile phase without
the buffer (for example using 60:40 ACN/H
2
0 to remove
a 60:40 ACN/0.02 M phosphate buffered mobile phase).
Re-equilibration is rapid with the original mobile phase when
using this approach and any danger of corrosion from the
salts is eliminated.