System Requirements For High Performance Prep Chromatography - Agilent Technologies SD-1 User Manual

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Optimizing Performance

System Requirements for High Performance Prep Chromatography

System Requirements for High Performance Prep
Chromatography
High performance prep chromatography requires long lasting, high efficiency
preparative columns and a properly designed HPLC system. Scaling-up HPLC
pumps and detectors is not as direct as scaling-up a column. For example,
pulsating pumps are common for analytical chromatography, but are not
recommended as much for preparative chromatography. Pulsations can affect
all columns and they can be largely dampened, but no one wants to potentially
decrease the life of a prep column. For preparative columns a pulse-free pump
is favored. There are three common ways to make a pulse-free pump.
Peristaltic pumps can be used for low pressure, low flow rate applications, but
are of little use for preparative chromatography. Syringe pumps will deliver
even flow at high temperatures, but high flow rates and pressures for
extended periods of time are not obtainable. The most feasible way to develop
high pressure, pulseless flow with a wide flow range is with a dual piston
pump where one starts to pump as the other stops pumping. Using stepper
motors with pressure compensation feedback assures constant flow and
pressure.
The pressure capacity for an Agilent SD-1 pump with 200 mL/min pump heads
at increasing flow rates is presented.
56 SD-1 Solvent Delivery - User Manual