Preface
xviii
Surveyor PDA Plus Detector Hardware Manual
Thermo Scientific
conditions, for future reference. Careful comparison of retention times, peak shapes, peak
sensitivity, and baseline noise can provide valuable clues to identifying and solving future
problems.
Chemical Toxicity
Although the large volume of toxic and flammable solvents used and stored in laboratories can
be quite dangerous, do not ignore the potential hazards posed by your samples. Take special
care to read and follow all precautions that ensure proper ventilation, storage, handling, and
disposal of both solvents and samples. Become familiar with the toxicity data and potential
hazards associated with all chemicals by referring to the manufacturers’ Material Safety Data
Sheets.
Sample Preparation
Always consider the solubility of your sample in the solvent/mobile phase. Sample
precipitation can plug the column, tubing or flow cell causing flow restriction. This
obstruction can result in irreparable damage to the system. Particulate matter can be avoided
by filtering the samples through 0.45 or 0.2 micron (or less) filters.
Solvent Requirements
Many chemical manufacturers provide a line of high-purity or HPLC-grade reagents that are
free of chemical impurities. Routine filtration of all solvents or eluents through a 0.45 or
0.2 micron (or less) fluorocarbon filter before placing them in the solvent reservoir
significantly prolongs the life and effectiveness of the inlet filters, check valves and seals,
injector, and column. Typically, HPLC-grade solvents do not require filtration.
Choose a mobile phase that is compatible with the sample and column you have selected for
your separation. Remember that some solvents are corrosive to stainless steel.
Solvent Disposal
Make sure you have a solvent waste container or other kind of drain system available at or
below the benchtop level. Most solvents have special disposal requirements and should not be
disposed of directly down a drain. Follow all governmental regulations when disposing of any
chemical.
High-pressure Systems and Leaks
LC systems operate at high pressures. Because liquids are not highly compressible they do not
store much energy. Accordingly, there is little immediate danger from the high pressures in an
LC system. However, if a leak occurs, it should be corrected as soon as possible. Always wear
eye and skin protection when operating or maintaining an LC system. Always shut down the
system and return it to atmospheric pressure before attempting any maintenance.
