When To Use The Seal Wash Option - Agilent Technologies 1200 Series Reference Manual

2 Optimizing Performance

When to use the Seal Wash Option

Highly-concentrated buffer solutions will reduce the lifetime of the seals and
plungers in your quaternary pump. The seal wash option allows to maintain
the seal lifetime by flushing the back side of the seal with a wash solvent.
The seal wash option is strongly recommended when buffer concentrations of
0.1 Molar or higher will be used for long time periods in the quaternary pump.
The seal wash option can be ordered by quoting part number 01018-68722 (kit
contains all parts needed for one pump head). The active seal wash option kit
can be ordered by quoting part number G1311-68711.
The seal wash option comprises a support ring, secondary seal, gasket and
seal keeper for both plunger sides. A wash bottle filled with water
/isopropanol (90/10) should be placed above the quaternary pump in the
solvent cabinet and gravity will maintain a flow through the pump head
removing all possible buffer crystals from the back of the pump seal. For the
active seal wash a peristaltic pump is pumping the solvent through the pump
head.
Running dry is the worst case for a seal and drastically reduces its lifetime.
N O T E
The seal will build up sticky layers on the surface of the plunger. These sticky layers will
also reduce the lifetime of the primary seal. Therefore the tubes of the wash option should
always be filled with solvent to prolong the lifetime of the wash seal. Always use a mixture
of bidistilled water (90 %) and isopropanol (10 %) as wash solvent. This mixture prevents
bacteria growth in the wash bottle and reduces the surface tension of the water.
For information on the installation of the active seal wash option refer to
"Installing the Seal Wash Option"
38
on page 114.
1200 Series QP Reference Manual