Chromatography
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Separates the components of a liquid sample on a packed column and measures each one as it leaves. The workhorse of pharmaceutical QC for assay, impurities and dissolution.
- Pharmaceutical
- Biotech
- Food & beverage
- Environmental
- Cosmetics
- Chemicals
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
Maintenance checklist
Daily / each use
- Check for leaks at fittings
- Note system pressure and compare with the normal range
- Check seal-wash solvent level
- Discard used mobile phase; never top up old mobile phase
Weekly
- Clean solvent reservoirs
- Check inlet filters for blockage
- Check autosampler needle and seat for deposits
Monthly / quarterly
- Replace inlet filters
- Check lamp hours and energy
- Clean or replace check valves if pressure ripple increases
Six-monthly / annual
- Preventive maintenance by a trained engineer (pump seals, rotor seal, needle, lamp as needed)
- Calibration of pump, injector, detector and column oven
SAFETY
Safety precautions
Before you work on the HPLC
- Organic solvents such as methanol and acetonitrile are flammable and toxic: handle them in a fume hood and keep them away from ignition sources.
- The system runs at high pressure: never loosen fittings while flow is on.
- Do not look directly at the UV lamp.
- Collect solvent waste in labelled, closed containers and dispose of it as per site procedure.
- Wear safety glasses, gloves and a lab coat when preparing mobile phases.
In LimsPulse · Calibration Management
Keep every HPLC in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.