Envirosep ABC GPC Column Contamination

[ravenwork]

Greetings,

We injected four extraction aliquots of a highly contaminated polymeric solid sample on our Envirosep GPC Column. These aliquots were at the recommended limit for loading, and contained very high levels of phthalates in addition to acetone-methylene chloride soluble polymers.

Since this, we have lost recovery for certain 8270 semi-volatiles, nitrophenols and chlorinated phenols. In some cases the recovery has dropped to zero.

It appears we have contaminated our Envirosep column.

Anyone have any similar experience? Anyone know a good cleaning procedure for this polystyrene divinylbenzene GPC column? This is a very pricey column, and it would be nice if we could get it working again.

Thanks,

Evan L. Cooper, Ph.D.
Analytical Laboratory Services, Inc.
Middletown, PA

[Mark Tracy]

Have you tried a backwash at elevated temperature?

[ravenwork]

Mark,

We are backflushing now, but I have no way to elevate the temperature of this semi-prep column, we run it at ambient conditions.

Do you think I could add a more aggressive/polar solvent like acetone to the backflush?

Evan

[Mark Tracy]

These columns shrink and swell depending on the eluent composition. Don't change that until you are sure you have exhausted gentler options.

You can try running the eluent line through a warm water bath to heat the column.