Chromatography Forum

I'm working with an HP 1050 system with a VWD for detection. My problem is with the connection with the union at the end of the capillary which runs through the heat exchange to the flow cell. There's a stainless steel union which joins the flow from the column and the capillary tubing into the heat exchange. I've had a bit of sporadic leaking where the capillary was welded into the union lately, and now it's snapped off. Looking around, I don't think replacement is an option without simply replacing the entire detector.

Does anyone have a workaround? Is attempting to weld the union back onto the capillary a futile mission? I'm working well above lowest detection limits, do I even need the heat exchange? Can I route around it? Or is my detector completely done?

If you're not pushing the detection limits, then you should be able to bypass the heat exchanger. Since it's broken anyway, it doesn't cost you anything but your time to try it out.

In any case, you should be able to replace the heat exchanger+flow cell assembly without trashing the entire detector, but the 1050 is old enough that it may in fact be cheaper to get a new unit.