Troubleshooting Common Problems in Chromatography

Mobile Phase Problems

The mobile phase’s problems often show themselves as low sensitivity, rising baselines, spikes, or noise. The first step in avoiding these problems is to use only HPLC grade solvents, salts, ion pair reagents, and base and acid modifiers. The growth of bacteria or algae is also a common problem in the mobile phase that can wreak havoc on results. Using a fundamental method of sample preparation will prevent bacteria growth and remove any particles that could create noisy baselines.

Pump Problems

A problem with your HPLC pump can result in erratic retention times, noisy baselines, spikes, and salt buildup. If you’re experiencing one of these problems, it could be due to a pump leak. To fix this, flush the pump with deionized water daily to get rid of any salt build-up. If the build-up isn’t a concern, your pump seals may need to be replaced. Your specific pump will also have pump-specific instructions for troubleshooting any other repairs you need to make.

Column Protection

Particles and strongly retained compounds can accumulate in your analytical column, which increases pressure and broadens peaks. Filtering and guard column solutions are the best choice for eliminating particle accumulation, creating accurate results and protecting your column’s longevity. Syringe filters and guard columns will keep complex separations as pure as possible for better results.

Problems can arise in almost any step of chromatography analysis due to contaminants or equipment and consumables that aren’t working to the best of their ability. Most commonly, chromatographers experience inaccurate results due to mobile phase, pump, and column problems. Following this guide for troubleshooting common problems in chromatography can assist in negating noisy baselines, spikes, and retention.