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HPLC Guard Columns
Precolumns (guard columns) and precolumn cartridges for HPLC
Separation columns with modern solid phases are critical components of the HPLC system. Careful handling and protection against impurities is necessary to ensure optimum and consistent separation results. In order to extend the life of your HPLC columns, it is advisable to use guard columns. They are able to remove molecules which would form an irreversible bond with the material of the analytical column. Guard coloumns need to be changed on a regular basis. A good indication on when to change a precolumn is a gradual increase in the back pressure. For more information on the storage and maintenance of HPLC column, click here.
We carry a wide range of solid phase and stainless steel cartridges for HPLC and UHPLC.
Precolumn cartridge upstream and precolumn holder
If you want to protect your column from contamination by connecting a precolumn cartridge upstream, you always need a precolumn holder as well. At Analytics-Shop you will find HPLC precolumns from all well-known manufacturers, from Agilent Technologies and Chiral to Macherey-Nagel, Merck, Thermo Scientific, Waters and Whatman. High quality and at the same time very affordable alternatives of precolumns and columns are products of our house brand Altmann Analytik.
Indirect pre-column holders are compatible with the common columns of all manufacturers. For this you need an additional column connector as an intermediate piece between column and pre-column holder. The following graphic shows the connection possibilities if you need a pre-column for an HPLC column (column connectors must be ordered separately):
In general, the length of the precolumn should not exceed 10 percent of the column. We therefore recommend
- for columns with length up to 50 mm: precolumns with length 5 mm
- for columns with length from 60 mm to 199 mm: precolumns with length 10 mm
- for columns with length of 200 mm and larger: precolumns with length 20 mm