How should I condition my new GC column? Details please.

We often get asked in tech service for advice about conditioning new GC columns. Although the information included with each new column covers the basics, some of our more detailed-oriented customers may still have a few additional questions. As a result, I took some time to update a GC column conditioning article that I wrote several years ago. In this revision, I included several new Restek columns that had not yet been developed when I wrote the original article, plus I included a general cautionary statement about using hydrogen (because over the past several years, many of our customers have switched from helium to hydrogen due to increased costs for the gas and/or supply interruptions).

The revised GC capillary column conditioning article can be reviewed in the link below. I hope you find it useful. 

How to Condition a New Capillary GC Column

If you do review the article above, you may notice that PLOT columns and packed/micropacked columns are not covered. If you are using one of these columns, the link below will be more informative.

PLOT Columns Instruction Sheet (PDF)

Please note that these instruction sheets may not cover your specific column packing, exact internal diameter (& length), or column tubing material. It would be almost impossible to include detailed recommendations for every combination; however, the information provided is usually detailed enough to help determine a good starting point for your specific column.

As always, if you don’t see the information you are looking for, we are one phone call or e-mail away. Thanks.