User guide

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Table 3. Troubleshooting Guide
Problem Cause Characteristics
High back 1. Bed collapse from excessive Sudden catastrophic pressure
pressure flow rate increase at flow above
recommended maximum
2. Chemical contamination Gradual increase in pressure
during use
3. Trapped air Column returned to use
after storage
4. Microbial contamination Column returned to use
after storage
5. Change in ionic form Rapid pressure increase after
buffer change
6. Bed degradation from Sudden catastrophic pressure
wrong organic solvent increase with solvent change
Loss of resolution 1. Particulate contamination Gradual loss in efficiency or
changing retention
2. Change in ionic form Changing retention times;
Sudden change which may be
accompanied by poor efficiency
3. Bed collapse from excessive Retention times constant; poor
flow rate efficiency; skewed peaks.
Sudden change.
4. Bed compression Retention times constant;
lowered efficiency; tailing
skewed peaks. Gradual change.
5. Bed degradation from wrong Changing retention times
` organic solvent accompanied by poor efficiency
6. Excessive dead volume Inability to match test
chromatogram
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