Performance Optimization; General Guidelines - Waters ACQUITY Arc System System Manual

2

Performance optimization

Follow the advice and guidelines in this chapter to help ensure optimum performance
from your system.

2.1 General guidelines

The ACQUITY Arc system provides the ability to replicate established HPLC methods
by emulating a system's dwell volume and mixing behavior. In the instrument
method editor, you can select between Path 1 (HPLC emulation path) and Path 2
(UHPLC path).
You can maximize separation performance by using columns of 3.0 mm ID or larger
that are packed with particles sized 2.5 µm or larger.
Follow these general recommendations when performing a UHPLC analysis:
• Use high quality solvents, buffers, and additives (HPLC or MS-grade).
• Use high quality water (HPLC or MS-grade).
• Always use solvent filters on tubing in solvent bottles.
• Filter buffers with a 0.45-µm filter membrane.
• Keep concentrated stock solutions to use when preparing working solutions, and
refrigerate it when not using it, to maximize shelf life.
• Do not add fresh buffer to old (a practice known as "topping off"); doing so can
promote microbial growth.
• Do not block the degasser's vent line; trim the tubing, if necessary.
• Do not submerge the waste or degasser-vent lines in liquid (refer to the ACQUITY
Arc Quaternary Solvent Manager-R Operator's Overview and Maintenance Guide
for details about how to route the system tubing).
• Keep all solvent lines primed.
• Flush buffers from the system when they are not in use, taking care to avoid
using solvents that can precipitate or otherwise react.
• Do not store the system in 100% acetonitrile; doing so can cause certain
components to fail.
• Use 10-20% organic solvent in water as a storage solvent if you expect the
system to remain idle longer than 24 hours.
June 12, 2015, 715004747 Rev. A
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