Prep column unblocking / recycling?

[tayzyboy]

We have a prep column (19mm ID, 250mm, 7um silica C18 packing) which seems to be partially blocked - 3000 PSI at 9ml/min MeOH:H2O 1:1.

We have tried 100% MeOH to clean the column , and reversed the column, but to no avail.

Does anyone know whether companies such as waters / hichrom etc. do a recycling/repair service for prep columns??.

Normally we just throw away blocked analytical size columns but this one is rather expensive £1300+ . So any advice would be appreciated.

As an additional note - I dont know what was last run through this column, but I suspect it was used for purifying a non-biological compound of some sort.

Thanks

James

[JM]

Hello ! James,
It seems that your prep column frit is clogged. You should try following,
1. wash the column with strong solvents such as ACN , ACN with TFA. inject large quantity of DMSO, DMF etc. if this does not solve your problem go to next step,
2. Open the inlet of the column and clean the frit by boiling in dil. nitric acid, dil. NaOH and finally with water.
3. Check the column bad , if it is too dirty cut off some portion and top-up with fresh packing material.

Hope this will work.

JM