Chromatography Forum

We recently purchased a refurbished HP 1050 LC system. The degasser line B and C were badly contaminated with something (about 1000 - 3000 mAU). After weeks of flushing forwards and backwards with various polarity solvents, from Acetone - MeOH - ACN - Water, the contamination has reduced tremendously. But, it remains about 40 - 100 mAU.

Of course, I am autozeroing on Line A, so I have no idea if this line is contaminated.

Does anyone have any suggestions for reclaiming this unit?

Also, we purchased another HP 1050 degasser from Ebay that worked beautifully for a number of weeks and showed no contamination; but, now it makes a funny noise and the red light is on.

What does this mean?

The 1050 degasser is mainly a box under vacuum from a small pump. Inside that gases are pulled through the permeable tubing which removes them. Second unit: that sounds like you have a vacuum leak. Go to auto parts store or order Agilent vacuum tubing, if it's still available. You'll be able to see cracks in tubing if it's bad or won't hold tight on its fittings, this unit is old. If the pump on that system doesn't work, I'd swap over the pump from the contaminated unit (the pump is no longer available).

1050 LC is at least 12 years old. The palstic parts can easily go wrong. Since degasser works as a stand alone module, you could use any brand degasser. You may buy a new one at around $2K.

If you are a hands-on person, you may open it up and replace the broken parts. You may get a user manual from the Agilent website. It gives detaild instructions on how to repair the device.

1050 LC is at least 12 years old. The palstic parts can easily go wrong. Since degasser works as a stand alone module, you could use any brand degasser. You may buy a new one at around $2K.

If you are a hands-on person, you may open it up and replace the broken parts. You may get a user manual from the Agilent website. It gives detaild instructions on how to repair the device.