INTRODUCTION:
Setting up a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system to run trouble-free takes patience and a strong set of troubleshooting skills. The patience aspect has usually worn out with most of us, but the troubleshooting skills often come from years of tinkering and practical experience. As a consultant who works with chromatographers on a daily basis, I have found that most chromatographers share many of the same basic HPLC hardware problems. Some of these problems the result of a failure to logically troubleshoot a problem from scratch or by overlooking seemingly minor changes that have been made to the system over time. One common area that is often overlooked in the area of HPLC is that of connection fittings (nuts and ferrules) and tubing selection. Selection and installation of the correct HPLC fittings and tubing can help you avoid future problems while allowing your system to run at peak performance. Common types of high pressure chromatography fittings and tubing found in the laboratory will be discussed in this article.
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