Please read the operation manual carefully to achieve the best and consistent column performance for a long time.

Please refer to the column specifications and usable conditions described in the individual products' operation manual.
Please download the operation manual for the purchased product.
The operation manual can be downloaded from here.

1. (1)Degas the eluent fully to prevent the formation of air bubbles.
2. (2)Presence of small debris or insoluble substances may result in deterioration of columns and/or they may appear as noise on chromatograms. Filter the eluent with a 0.45-μm disposable filter to prevent the problems from occurring.

1. (1)If possible, use the eluent for analysis to dissolve or dilute samples. If this is difficult, use a solvent which has a composition that is as close as possible to the eluent composition and which fully dissolves or dilutes the sample. For gradient elution, samples are recommended to be dissolved or diluted using the eluent used at the beginning of the gradient method.
2. (2)Filter diluted sample solutions using disposable 0.45-μm filters to prevent the column from clogging or deteriorating.

1. (1)Wash the entire HPLC system prior to column installation, including all flow-lines and sample loop by switching the valves, and then replace the washing solution with the eluent to be used. If desired new eluent has low miscibility/solubility to the eluent of previous analysis, first use the eluent that is miscible/soluble to both eluents, and then replace it with the desired eluent.

1. (2)Connect the column to HPLC system by following the “flow direction arrow” (➡) indicated on the column adhesive label. If a guard column is used, position the guard column in front (before the inlet) of the analytical column.
2. (3)Make sure to insert the tubing all the way to the end fitting and secure it with the male nut. It is important that there is no extra space between the tubing and the column side of the end fitting. Presence of an extra space will let the sample to spread out and may result in wide peaks.
3. (4)Set the initial flow rate at less than half of the recommended flow rate and start the system. If the column is to be heated during the analysis, keep the low flow rate until the column temperature reaches to the set temperature, and then gradually increase the flow rate to the desired.

To replace the solvent, start the system at less than half of the recommended flow rate. Recommended solvent volume to introduce at each step is 3 to 5 times of the column volume.

1. (1)Check miscibility/solubility of the desired new solvent and the solvent currently filled in the column. When replacing with a solvent having low miscibility/solubility to the current solvent, first use a solvent that is miscible/soluble to both (new and current) eluents, and then replace it with the new solvent.
2. (2)When using a gradient method, changes in the eluent compositions may increase the column backpressure. Adjust the flow rate and column temperature so that the column backpressure remains below the usable maximum pressure throughout the analysis.

Problems in peak shapes and elution time changes or elevated column pressure are often caused by the deposition of insoluble or adsorbing components from the sample/flow-line inside the column. These problems may be resolved by cleaning the column.
If a guard column is used with an analytical column(s), first remove the guard column and check the performance of the analytical column alone. If the problem is solved, most likely the cause was from the guard column. In this case, clean the guard column.
If the problem remains even after removing the guard column, clean both guard and analytical columns. Make sure to clean the guard and the analytical columns separately. In case multiple number of analytical columns are used together, wash them separately. During the column cleaning, disconnect the detector and collect the washing solution directly from the column outlet into a waste container (i.e., do not let the solution go through the detector).
If the column performance does not improve (recover) after performing the column cleaning, please replace the column with a new one.

<Cleaning method>

1. (1)Insoluble components that block the column inlet may be removed by reversing the flow direction, i.e., introducing the eluent from the column outlet, with flow rate at less than half of the recommended flow rate.
2. (2)Please refer to the individual products' operation manual for the product's-specific column cleaning method.

Remove the column from HPLC system after replacing the in-column solvent with the initial shipping solvent. Securely tighten the end caps and store the column at a location with stable temperature (a cool and dark space is recommended).

Please refer to the inspection method described in the CoA. At Shodex, “half width method” is adopted for the calculation of plate count and “asymmetry factor (Fas)” is adopted for the calculation of peak symmetry.
Please download the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the purchased product. The CoA can be downloaded from Shodex website. You will be asked to enter the serial number.
The CoA can be downloaded from here.

Please follow a proper waste disposal method specified by your local regulations.

1. (1)Do not remove end fittings.
2. (2)Do not make a strong impact on the column. Do not drop or hit the column on a hard surface.