Conditioning Packed Columns; Conditioning Chemical Traps - Agilent Technologies 6850 Series II User Information

Conditioning packed columns

Conditioning involves establishing a flow of carrier gas through a column and
then heating it overnight to drive off contaminants.
Warning Do not use hydrogen as the carrier for conditioning! It vents into the oven and
could create an explosion hazard.
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Conditioning chemical traps

Preconditioned traps can be used immediately. All traps need periodic recondi-
tioning, refilling, or replacement, usually after using one to four cylinders of
gas or if gases of the highest purity were not used. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions shipped with each trap. See
Released: March 2004
Turn off the detectors. Shut off the detector support gases. Shut off
hydrogen!
Install the proper liner in the inlet and attach the column in the normal
manner.
Do not connect the column to the detector. Cap the detector fitting with a
no-hole ferrule and column nut.
Enter an appropriate column flow:
• 20 to 30 mL/min for 2-mm id glass or 1/8-in. OD metal columns
• 50 to 60 mL/min for 4-mm id glass or 1/4-in. OD metal columns
The conditioning temperature is never greater than the maximum temper-
ature limit for the column; 30°C less than the maximum is usually
sufficient. Slowly raise oven temperature to the conditioning temperature
for the column.
Continue conditioning overnight at the final temperature. If you will not be
using the conditioned column immediately, remove it from the oven. After
removing the column, cap both ends to prevent air, moisture, or other
contaminants from entering the column.
6850 Series II GC User Information
Conditioning packed columns
Table 12.
Columns and Traps
page 26 of 256