HCl as mobile phase

[A]

Hi,
Does anyone know if using HCl as mobile phase will damage the Primesep A column?
Many thanks,
A

[danko]

Hi A,

Generally, it is not a good idea to expose a standard HPLC system to HCl – it will destroy the metal parts that are in contact with it (over time).
But why would you use HCl anyway? And in what concentration?

Best Regards

[A]

by mistake.
18mM

[danko]

It depends on for how long the column was exposed to this, relatively diluted HCl (approx. pH 1.7)
But I wouldn’t expect any damage to the column if we are talking about a couple of hours or something like that. I assume you’ve washed the column subsequently.

Best Regards

[A]

about 10 h.
I have been washing it with water.

[danko]

The manufacturer documents the stability of this column at pH down to 1.5.
So, I wouldn’t be worried if I were you. But maybe you should try this particular column with your application and see if it performs as it did before the “acid bathâ€

[HW Mueller]

There have been extensive discussions, here, on the effect of HCl on stainless steel. Some people claim that it attacks steel even at low concentrations. My experience limits itself to Cl- at ~pH of 7, where it has not attacked the steel of my apparati, and molar (or higher) acidic Cl- which attacks stainless immediatly.

[A]

Thank you Danko, I feel a lot better now...I'll check it after I have washed it for 12h with water.
Best wishes,
A