Chromatography Forum

Hi, quick question...

Does anyone know, or have any experience using new/unused HPLC columns that have been stored for years? I recently purchased 2 identical new columns from Waters, upon opening one of the boxes the QC sheet showed the date of manufacture April 2004! The column was sealed, brand new, and the included information said it was stored in 100% ACN.

So is there any reason to expect a degradation in performance due to age?

Column info: 3.0mm x 100mm, 3.5um Waters Symmetry C18, 100A

Thanks!

Sounds good to go to me.

C18 columns in general are fairly robust, so it is *probably* OK. I generally run a "mini sysrem suitability" test on any new column, so that would tell the tale. If it fails, the age would certainly be ground for a return.

I've actually had a Waters (Symmetry) column with > 5000 injections on it that produced nicely shaped peaks with good retention after nearly 10 years of use, nevermind storage. I'd certainly check it out to be sure, as Tom mentioned, but the 2004 date wouldn't worry me in the slightest.

I already had two unpleasant situations with new columns maybe similar to yours. Same script: everything was right with box, package ok, column external appearence was good, etc, but running simple SST with toluene the theoretical plate number was very small and chromatograms were fully ugly. In both cases I got substitutions. Damage during transportation (physical impact) from vendor to my lab and evaporation of internal ACN, also. I'm sure Waters will return. teixeiracs@yahoo.com

I believe that pure acetonitrile as Waters use to store columns is one of the best solvents to preserve column performance. Some manufacturers store columns in pure methanol, or combinations of methanol and water which supposedly can give slow hydrolysis or methanolysis of the bonded ligands in RP columns. Whether this effect is rapid enought to be detrimental in practice or not has probably not been studied fully.

I would guess the old column is fine. You have a great opportunity to check all our speculations, in that it would appear that the other column you have was made recently. Thus you can compare the two and report back. If the old one is inferior you have strong evidence to claim a replacement from Waters.

I believe that pure acetonitrile as Waters use to store columns is one of the best solvents to preserve column performance. Some manufacturers store columns in pure methanol, or combinations of methanol and water which supposedly can give slow hydrolysis or methanolysis of the bonded ligands in RP columns. Whether this effect is rapid enought to be detrimental in practice or not has probably not been studied fully.

Where have you heard about hydrolysis from simple MeOH/H2O on RP columns? - just curious, thanks.

I'll have an opportunity to test the column this weekend. Will definitely get back with results.

BTW. thanks for your replies!

Colleagues of mine were killing a bunch of C8 columns with changing the storage medium to fifty-fifty water/methanol.

I have never observed problems with columns stored in 100 % acetonitril. Even if they were not used for years.