Flushing of Column for HPLC

[mandytan]

A Polymeric Reversed Phase column (styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer)was used for HPLC analysis. The analysis was conducted at a temperature of 50degC and the mobile phase includes K2HPO4 (i.e. phosphate buffer). After the run, should the column be flushed with water at 50degC or can the column thermostat be switched off (i.e. to flush at room temperature)?
Also, if the column is suspected to have degenerated, how do we go about regenerating the column?

[Consumer Products Guy]

I'd first do a complete flush of the lines to the pump, and through the column, with a flush mobile phase consisting of your aqueous and organic, without the dissolved solids. Then after that I'd go with higher % organic to help clean the column.