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Thermo Fisher Scientific

Version 1.0 - Cleaning the solvent lines, pumps, and valves

Issue

How do I clean the solvent lines, pumps, and valves?

Environment

  • LX-2
  • LX-4
  • TLX-1
  • TLX-2
  • TLX-4

Resolution

1. Remove all the columns from the system and cap them with plugs.

2. Put low dead volume unions on the system in place of the columns.

3. Remove all the lines from the mobile phase bottles, place them into LC/MS grade deionized water, and do the following:

      a. Purge the pumps with water for 5 minutes.

      b. Verify that the purge valves are closed, if applicable.

      c. Precondition the pumps with water for 10 minutes. 

      d. Create and submit a batch that runs five blanks (water) from the same vial.

      e. Load a vial of water into the appropriate position on the autosampler and perform the run.

4. Place all the lines into cleaning solvent.

5. Then do the following:

      a. Purge the system for 5 minutes.

      b. Precondition the pumps for 10 minutes. 

      c. Run five water blanks from the same vial.

6. Place all the lines into deionized water and do the following:

      a. Purge the system for 5 minutes.

      b. Precondition the pumps for 10 minutes. 

      c. Create and submit a batch that runs five blanks from the same vial.

7. Then, load a vial of water into the appropriate position on the autosampler and perform the run.

8. Place all the lines into fresh mobile phase solutions and do the following:

      a. Purge the system for 5 minutes.

      b. Precondition the pumps for 10 minutes. 

      c. Create and submit a batch that runs five blanks (water) from the same vial.

      d. Load a vial of water into the appropriate position on the autosampler and perform the run.

9. Remove the low dead volume unions and install the appropriate columns.

10. Precondition the pumps with mobile phases for 10 minutes to precondition the columns you installed in step 7.

Cause

If you use buffers with high salt concentrations, this article provides the steps to cleans the lines, pumps, and valves, and helps prevent a salt buildup.