Chromatography Forum

I am confused, when people talk about activation of the C18 chains in a brand new reverse phase column C18, do they mean equilibration? I was told that it is a different process?
I usually just replace the shipping solvent of the new column with the mobile phase is simply
and Organic /aqueous solution ACN/water 70:30 but if it has buffer, I usually wash the solvent with water and then replace it with the mobile phase. Is this the activation process? thank you

no, for the activation of the C18-chains, you will need a special device that looks like a kind of a fluoresence lamp and then firmly wipe the column several times with it and be sure to do it in opposite to the indicated flow direction...
(Maybe you remeber what Bonnie did to "recharge" K.I.T.T. in Knight Rider
[/kidding]

never heard of any activation process. Your procedure sounds just fine.
In case of any doubts, refer to the column "care&use" manual of the manufacturer, either supplied or on the web page.
My procedure is normally to flush the column with 100% organic to fully wet the pores, then change to mobile phase.

LOL, the knight Rider... lol, thanks a lot.

no, for the activation of the C18-chains, you will need a special device that looks like a kind of a fluoresence lamp and then firmly wipe the column several times with it and be sure to do it in opposite to the indicated flow direction...
(Maybe you remeber what Bonnie did to "recharge" K.I.T.T. in Knight Rider
[/kidding]

I am confused, when people talk about activation of the C18 chains in a brand new reverse phase column C18, do they mean equilibration? I was told that it is a different process?
I usually just replace the shipping solvent of the new column with the mobile phase is simply
and Organic /aqueous solution ACN/water 70:30 but if it has buffer, I usually wash the solvent with water and then replace it with the mobile phase. Is this the activation process? thank you

This sounds like someone is using a "flash" column which are generally dry-packed and need to be conditioned prior to use. This is done by washing the column with more than 50% organic solvent, after which you use the column to purify your compounds.

Here's a link that describes the process:
http://www.isco.com/WebProductFiles/App ... torage.pdf