Chromatography Forum

I would like to know switching valve is how much useful with HPLC .

I've found switching valves useful in a number of ways during the last year. Firstly I have used an Agilent 1100 with a column switcher for column comparison experiments which allowed overnight runs and saved us lots of time.

Also these systems have been used when we are pushed for system space (we have 5 RP LC's between 8 chemists and 10 projects so sometimes the workload overloads the instruments we have.) In these cases we have run one column on lines A1B1 and one column on A2B2 so runs can be queued up. Just remember to allow yourself a long enough equilibration period once the column switch has been made.

I've used Waters Alliance systems with column switchers for 2 applications, we have one set up especially for robustness studies (which often require column batch as one of the variables) and another set up as an open access kit with 6 columns and basic RP eluents so people can run samples on basic methods without having to set up an LC for themselves.

Column switchers can improve the flexibility of your machines and the efficiency of your team.

There are automated method development systems that rely on column switchers too.

You are talking about those switching valves also used in multi-step (often strangely called multi-dimensional) chromatography?

I've used it to bypass the detector during strong cleanings to avoid blocking or damaging the flow cell.

In addition to column selection, it can also be used e.g. :

-Alternating column regeneration
-Sample enrichment and sample clean-up

on the site of Dionex you will find explanations for most of the aplications proposed here above:

http://www1.dionex.com/en-us/lp35614.html

look at:
paralle, tandem, 2D LC, Online SPE and fast aplication switching.

correctly used all those applications will in the end save you time, bench space and money.

you should also go and have a look around at Rheodyne:
http://www.rheodyne.com/products/fluidi ... /index.asp

Here is another approach for shortening run time and removing some interference:

Rapid HPLC Analysis of Complex Mixtures

http://www.sielc.com/pdf/SIELC_September_2004.pdf

hello Anupama,

You may also look this website for application examples using switching valves. There infroamtion about multidimensional HPLC and on-line sample erinchment and sample clean up:

www.promochrom.com

Haibinwan