Agilent J&W PLOT columns

Installation and Conditioning

Learn more:
www.agilent.com/chem Column installation and conditioning Table 1. Agilent J&W PLOT column conditioning guidelines.

Buy online: Before proceeding, please read the following information

Phase Conditioning Conditioning
www.agilent.com/chem/store regarding proper installation and conditioning of your Type Column Temperature Time
Agilent J&W PLOT column. These steps are critical to
CP-Al2O3
Find an Agilent Representative or proper performance and lifetime of the column.
CP-Al2O3 PT
Agilent Authorized Distributor: Porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns are highly Aluminum GS-Alumina
200 °C 8 hours
retentive. Trace amounts of water in your carrier gas can Oxide GS-Alumina PT
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adversely affect chromatography. Using a moisture trap HP-PLOT Alumina

U.S. and Canada on your carrier gas line is highly recommended. HP-PLOT Alumina PT

CP-Molsieve 5Å 350 °C 3 to 8 hours

1-800-227-9770 1. Install the column according to the instructions Molecular
enclosed in the column box. Sieve
CP-Molsieve 5Å PT 300 °C 3 to 8 hours
[email protected] HP-PLOT Molesieve 300 to 350 °C 3 to 6 hours
2. After installing the column into the inlet, set the carrier
Europe gas flow rate. For PLOT columns, slowly increase GS-Q
250 °C 8 to 10 hours
the carrier gas pressure at the rate of 2 to 3 psi/min GS-Q PT
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(10 to 20 kPa/min), until reaching the appropriate flow PoraBOND Q

Asia Pacific rate. PoraBOND Q PT

270 °C 3 to 6 hours
HP-PLOT Q
[email protected] Slow pressure ramping is not required for
HP-PLOT Q PT
CP‑SilicaPLOT, GS-GasPro, GS-CarbonPLOT, and
PoraPLOT Q
India PoraBOND columns. These columns can be brought
Porous PoraPLOT Q PT
[email protected] to pressure rapidly due to their unique particle bonding
Polymers PoraPLOT Q-HT 250 °C 3 to 6 hours
technology.
PoraPLOT Q-HT PT
3. Let the carrier gas purge for three to five minutes PoraPLOT S
before connecting the column to the detector.
PoraPLOT U
4. Condition the columns per the guidelines in Table 1. PoraPLOT U PT
PoraBOND U 190 °C 3 to 6 hours
Note: Do not exceed the maximum operating temperature
HP-PLOT U
of the column when setting inlet and detector
HP-PLOT U PT
temperatures.
This information is subject to change without notice. CP-CarboPLOT P7 115 °C 3 to 6 hours

Carbon CP-CarboBOND 300 °C 3 to 6 hours

© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2019 GS-CarbonPLOT 300 to 350 °C 3 to 6 hours
Printed in the USA, September 6, 2019
G3903-90011 CP-SilicaPLOT 225 °C 3 to 6 hours
Silica
GS-GasPro 260 °C 3 to 6 hours
Particle traps There are other functional differences that you need to be Agilent offers separate particle traps that can be To maintain the installed column between uses, hold the
aware of as you get ready to install your PLOT PT column connected to your standard PLOT column using a glass oven temperature at 100 to 150 °C with continuous carrier
In a typical PLOT column, more than 10 particles are
11
and set up your GC system. There are sections on the press fit connector. Connect the trap to the end of the gas flow. This helps avoid problems associated with
present. Though highly stabilized, it is impossible to
bottom and the top of the column that have a different column if the column is used in normal mode, and to the accumulation of water, CO2, or other carrier gas impurities.
guarantee that no particles will dislodge from the column
appearance (Figure 1). These are the particle trap sections beginning of the column when used in backflush mode.
wall. Upon sudden pressure shocks, for example in Column storage
of your PLOT PT column.
valve-switching applications, some particles will leave the Table 3. Agilent particle traps.
column. To prevent these particles from disturbing your Seal the column ends with GC septa, and return the
detector signal or damaging your valve, use a particle trap. Description Part Number
column to the original box. Upon reinstallation, cut the
column ends to ensure that no pieces of septum have
Agilent offers PLOT columns with built-in dual-sided 2.5 m × 0.25 mm Particle trap CP4019
been left in the column.
particle traps. Through our innovative coating technology, 2.5 m × 0.32 mm Particle trap CP4016
PLOT PT columns have a coating of stationary phase Gas Clean filters
2.5 m × 0.53 mm Particle trap CP4017
between particle traps on the front and the end of a
single length of capillary column. With the inclusion of 2.5 m × 0.53 mm Particle trap for UltiMetal The Agilent Gas Clean filter system delivers clean gasses,
CP4018
these built-in particle traps, under normal use, you can deactivated stainless steel columns reducing the risk of column damage, sensitivity loss, and
confidentially connect these PLOT columns to backflush Particle trap connector (0.25/0.32 mm) (10/pk) CP4788 instrument downtime. Inserting a Gas Clean filter system
valves, heart-cut valves, capillary flow technology (CFT) into the gas line immediately before the instrument inlet
Particle trap connector (0.53 mm) (10/pk) CP4789
devices, and any of your GC detectors without concern greatly reduces the level of impurities, and improves
for stationary phase particles causing valve failures or trace analysis. The sensitive indicators within the filter
chromatographic anomalies that you can experience Column maintenance change color, alerting you that the filter needs to be
with a standard PLOT column. PLOT PT columns are replaced. Replacing the filters when they have reached
Figure 1. The 2.5 m particle trapping portions of an Agilent PLOT PLOT columns can become contaminated by water, polar
suitable for use in GC/MS applications and, because absorption capacity ensures maximum protection of your
PT column, identified by different colored tubing. compounds, or hydrocarbons in a sample of carrier gas
they are one continuous length of capillary tubing, and GC columns and analytical hardware.
streams. When contamination is suspected, bake out the
do not have unions attaching the particle traps, they There are approximately five coils (approximately
column at its conditioning temperature for several hours,
are leak-free. The direction of carrier gas flow through 2.5 meters) for each of the particle traps. You may notice
or until the baseline is stable.
the column is unrestricted, so feel free to connect your that there appear to be voids or particles inside the
column backwards, and do not worry about reverse gas column at the interface where the particle trap and the Contaminant compounds vary depending on retention and
flow applications causing problems with particle spiking stationary phase coating meet—this is normal for this type selectivity of the PLOT stationary phase. Consult Table 4
or valve damage. of column. The column you received has been individually for typical contaminants by PLOT phase type.
inspected to a visual cosmetic standard, and has been
Note: Under extreme conditions of excessive carrier gas
tested to verify the highest chromatographic performance Table 4. Typical contaminants by PLOT phase type.
pressure, damage to the stationary phase can occur.
available in any PLOT column. PLOT PT columns are
Under such conditions, it is possible that stationary phase
coated to have the same phase ratio (β), that is, the Phase Type Typical Contaminants
particles may break through the particle traps. Table 2
same stationary phase film thickness through the coated Water; carbon dioxide; large hydrocarbons
provides guidelines for the upper maximum flow based on
section of the column, as their standard PLOT column Aluminum Oxide
and substituted aromatics; oxygen-containing
inside diameter. compounds such as alcohols, ethers, and ketones;
counterpart. This means that your PLOT PT column
sulfur‑containing compounds
Table 2. Upper maximum flow
has the same chromatographic characteristics as the
standard column of that nominal coated length. Molecular Sieve Water; carbon dioxide; hydrocarbons larger than C3
based on inside diameter.
Porous Polymers Larger hydrocarbons and substituted aromatics
Attention: The maximum allowable temperature for
Id Upper Maximum Flow Carbon Larger hydrocarbons and substituted aromatics
CP‑Molsieve 5Å PT columns is 300 °C. Due to bleeding of
0.25 mm 3 mL/min the particle traps, the maximum temperature is lowered Silica Larger hydrocarbons and substituted aromatics
0.32 mm 5 mL/min compared to non-PT Molsieve columns. Please use Figure 2. Agilent Gas Clean filters.
0.53 mm 10 mL/min
300 °C as the maximum temperature when conditioning
the column. For more information, visit: agilent.com/chem/gasclean