1.3.2.2 Purge solvent
The primary function of the purge solvent is to move sample along the injection pathway. The
purge solvent also primes the sample syringe and injection pathway. The solvent’s injection onto
the column occurs only during auto-dilution, when it is used as the dilution solvent.
Notes:
• Purge solvent must be miscible with the needle wash solvent.
• Waters recommends a purge solvent of 90/10 Water/Methanol whenever possible.
1.3.3 Column heater
Column temperature variations can shift peak retention times and alter peak shapes, increasing
the difficulty of achieving precise results. The column compartment helps to ensure precise,
reproducible separations by controlling the column temperature.
The column compartment heats to any temperature from 20 ºC (or a minimum of 5 ºC above
ambient temperature) to 90 ºC. An active preheating device heats the incoming solvent before it
enters the column. The column heater can accommodate columns up to 4.6 mm I.D. and up to
150 mm length.
Tips:
• Active preheating is the default configuration for the system.
• An optional, passive, column stabilizer is available for existing chromatographic methods not
suitable for active preheating.
1.3.4 Column manager (optional)
The ACQUITY UPLC H-Class column manager is an option for helping to ensure precise,
reproducible separations. The column manager can regulate the temperature of columns from 4
to 90 °C. Its troughs can accommodate columns of up to 4.6-mm I.D. and up to 150-mm length,
depending on the configuration. Each of the two column troughs can condition one 15-cm column
(with filter) or two 50-mm columns (without filters).
The column manager offers a waste channel as well as a bypass channel and automated,
programmable switching between columns, for methods development.
You can configure the column manager to work with as many as two column manager auxiliary
modules, in addition to the base unit. The column manager auxiliary modules are controlled by
the column manager and operate in the same temperature range. Each of the two column
troughs can accommodate one column of up to 150 mm in length with a pre-column filter, or two
columns up to 500 mm in length without pre-column filters.
Note:
A system configured with a column manager base unit (and no additional heater/cooler
modules) can accommodate as many as four columns (50-mm); a system with a column manager
base unit and one column heater/cooler module can accommodate as many as four columns; a
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