Septum particles in my insert.. Good, Bad or Ugly?

Most septa are made of poly-dimethyl siloxane. That’s the same polymer we also use to make stable low-bleed phases. What happens if a particle of the septum is ripped off? Yes , indeed it’s remains in your (hot) injection port liner and will start to decompose: decomposition products (siloxanes) will be entering your column developing higher background and ghost peaks.. (and you may think that your column is bleeding..)

In time, activity in the liner will develop which will challenge your trace analysis of any polar analyte even before it is entering the column..

There are septa with a center guide in conjunction with tapered needles.. it will help you reducing septum scoring.. Also replace or clean liners periodically, for instance as a preventive maintenance program every 50 or 100 injections..

It's GOOD to be aware, It's BAD to ignore and it may end in UGLY chromatography..