6
–
Column Care
Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for IonPac AS31 Columns
Page 39 of 45
155007-01
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
6.
Column Care
6.1
Recommended Operation Pressures
Operating a column above its recommended pressure limit can cause irreversible loss of column
performance. The maximum recommended operating pressure for the Dionex IonPac AS31
Column is listed in
Sections
Error! Reference source not found.
, “
General Operating Conditions”.
6.2
Column Start-Up
The column is shipped using sodium bicarbonate as the storage solution.
Prepare the eluent shown on the Quality Assurance Report. To remove the storage solution, flush
the column to waste with 80 mM KOH for at least 45 minutes and then 15 minutes with the QAR
eluent before attaching the column outlet to the suppressor. Install the column in the column
module and test the column performance under the conditions described in the QAR. Continue
making injections of the test standard until consecutive injections of the standard give
reproducible retention times. Equilibration is complete when consecutive injections of the
standard give reproducible retention times.
IMPORTANT
When making any tubing connections, first turn off the pump. This will avoid any slippage
of the ferrule under high pressure conditions.
6.3
Column Storage
For short-term storage (< 1 week), use eluent; for long-term storage (> 1 week), store in eluent in
a refrigerator or use 100 mM sodium bicarbonate for the column storage solution when stored at
room temperature. With the column outlet directed to waste, flush the column for a minimum of
10 minutes with the storage solution. Cap both ends securely, using the plugs supplied with the
column.
6.4
Chemical Purity Requirements
Obtaining reliable, consistent, and accurate results requires eluents that are free of ionic
impurities. Chemicals, solvents, and deionized water used to prepare eluents must be of the
highest purity available. Low trace impurities and low particle levels in eluents also help to protect
your ion exchange columns and system components. Thermo Fisher Scientific cannot guarantee
proper column performance when the quality of the chemicals, solvents and water used to prepare
eluents has been compromised.
Currently at Thermo Fisher Scientific, we have obtained consistent results using Optima®
Solvents by Fisher Scientific. We have found that bottled HPLC-grade water from Burdick &
Jackson contains acceptably low levels of impurities.
