Advertisement

lost prime

Basic questions from students; resources for projects and reports.

5 posts Page 1 of 1
Can anyone please let me know what's lost prime?

"Priming" a pump refers to filling the inlet lines and pump head with liquid so that it can pump efficiently (i.e., so that there is no air in the inlet lines, pump head, or check valves). "Lost prime" means that a significant amount of air is trapped in the system such that it can no longer pump correctly.
-- Tom Jupille
LC Resources / Separation Science Associates
tjupille@lcresources.com
+ 1 (925) 297-5374
Thanks Tom Jupille your reply.
I just want to learn more from you. can you please help me to understand about lost prime problem?
My run stoped at the midle and i noticed the mobile A did not have enought, but some one told me that it cause by the lost prime, is it correct?

It's the other way round. If your mobile phase A bottle is empty or the tubing is not correctly emerged in the mobile phase, that will introduced air in to the system and it can lead to "lost prime". HPLC software can detect extensive pressure variations or you can add a minimum back pressure at which point the method/pump will shut down.

AIR IN SYSTEM..........MEANS LOST PRIME
Just purge the system 2-3 times
if not solved then open the screw below the pump till u get liquid there...
5 posts Page 1 of 1

Who is online

In total there are 15 users online :: 0 registered, 0 hidden and 15 guests (based on users active over the past 5 minutes)
Most users ever online was 4374 on Fri Oct 03, 2025 12:41 am

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests

Latest Blog Posts from Separation Science

Separation Science offers free learning from the experts covering methods, applications, webinars, eSeminars, videos, tutorials for users of liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, sample preparation and related analytical techniques.

Subscribe to our eNewsletter with daily, weekly or monthly updates: Food & Beverage, Environmental, (Bio)Pharmaceutical, Bioclinical, Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.

Liquid Chromatography

Gas Chromatography

Mass Spectrometry