Summary and Exam

HPLC Troubleshooting Course

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1 - Basics of Systematic Troubleshooting

2 - Preventive Maintenance Measures

3 - Baseline Disturbances

4 - Pressure Fluctuations

5 - Changes in Peak Shape - Part 1

6 - Changes in Peak Shape - Part 2

7 - Ghost Peaks

8 - Peak Area Fluctuations

9 - Retention Time Fluctuations - Part 1

10 - Retention Time Fluctuations - Part 2

11 - Column Lifespan - Part 1

12 - Column Lifespan - Part 2

13 - Detector Issues

14 - Flow Line Leakage

15 - Course Summary

Course Conclusion

Thank you for participating in our online course, Troubleshooting in Liquid Chromatography. We hope this course has equipped you with practical tools to maximise system uptime, prevent errors, and quickly diagnose and resolve issues.

In the past 14 course sections, we have covered a wide range of potential error sources. However, troubleshooting is an ongoing learning process, and new challenges may arise that were not addressed here. To effectively tackle unexpected issues, always follow the key troubleshooting principles:

- Change only one variable at a time to systematically identify the root cause.

- Take a step-by-step approach to avoid unnecessary modifications and confusion.

- Document your process to build a reference for future troubleshooting and improve efficiency.

By applying these strategies, you will develop a deeper understanding of your HPLC system and gain valuable hands-on experience. 

 

To receive your completion certificate, test your knowledge with the quiz below. A passing score is 75% of the total available points.

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Preventing Errors: Key Takeaways

 
One of the most important aspects of this course is error prevention. To help you maintain optimal system performance and minimize troubleshooting, we have summarised the most essential preventive measures below:
 
 
 

- Never leave buffers in the system. Rinse them out with pure water (depending on the column) or maintain a low flow rate to prevent salt precipitation.

- Use a mediator solvent when switching between immiscible eluents or between buffers and organic solvents. The mediator should be compatible with both phases to ensure a smooth transition.

- Keep thorough documentation. Maintain column logs, maintenance records, and usage lists to always have a clear overview of your HPLC’s condition.

- Perform regular system tests to monitor the health of your system and column, ensuring you have a reliable baseline for troubleshooting if issues arise.

- Control system temperature. Whether for the column, detector, or autosampler, stable temperature conditions are critical for reproducibility and performance. Temperature fluctuations can significantly impact various components.

- Immediately discard defective spare parts to prevent accidental reuse, which could lead to further issues.

- Rinse your system and column regularly to remove contaminants and extend their lifespan.

- Handle your column with care. It is the heart of your system, along with the eluents. Avoid physical shocks, sudden pressure changes, and operation outside the manufacturer’s specifications.

- Standardize eluent preparation procedures to ensure consistency and reliability in your analyses.

 

Thank you again for your participation! We wish you the best of luck on the final test.

Your Shimadzu LC Team

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