Agilent Technologies InfinityLab LC Series User Manual page 71

3 Using the Pump
Solvent Information
Stainless Steel (SST)
Stainless steel is inert against many common solvents. It is stable in the
presence of acids and bases in a pH range of 1 to 12.5. It can be corroded by
acids below pH 2.3. It can also corrode in following solvents:
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Agilent InfinityLab LC Series 1260 Infinity II Isocratic and Quaternary Pumps User Manual
Solutions of alkali halides, their respective acids (for example, lithium iodide,
potassium chloride) and aqueous solutions of halogens.
High concentrations of inorganic acids like nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and
organic solvents especially at higher temperatures (replace, if your
chromatography method allows, by phosphoric acid or phosphate buffer,
which are less corrosive against stainless steel).
Halogenated solvents or mixtures, which form radicals and/or acids, for
example:
2 CHCl + O → 2 COCl
3 2
This reaction, in which stainless steel probably acts as a catalyst, occurs
quickly with dried chloroform if the drying process removes the stabilizing
alcohol.
Chromatographic grade ethers, which can contain peroxides (for example,
THF, dioxane, diisopropyl ether). Such ethers should be filtered through dry
aluminum oxide, which adsorbs the peroxides.
Solutions of organic acids (acetic acid, formic acid, and so on) in organic
solvents. For example, a 1 % solution of acetic acid in methanol will attack
steel.
Solutions containing strong complexing agents (for example, EDTA,
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid).
Mixtures of carbon tetrachloride with isopropanol or THF.
+ 2 HCl
2
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