Using Your EXP LC Guard Column Protection System

Description

The EXP LC Guard Column Protection System is an easy to use and versatile guard cartridge holder that is appropriate for use with Restek Force and Raptor LC column lines. It has a unique design hold the guard cartridges in a specific configuration, so you can never put it together incorrectly. It also has a quick-change feature to make it easy to replace cartridges.

Additional Resources

• EXP and EXP2 Fittings

Restek Recommended Tools & Parts

• EXP Direct Connect Holder
• Raptor EXP Guard Column Cartridges
• Force EXP Guard Column Cartridges

Transcript

Hi everyone, thanks for joining us for this Restek tip. Our topic today is the EXP guard column system.

This type of guard cartridge and holder is meant for our Force and our Raptor columns, and it's really important that you match the phase of the guard to the phase of the analytical column. So, C18 goes with C18, Biphenyl goes with Biphenyl, and so on. The cartridges used are 5-millimeter packed bed, and the nice thing about it is they only fit into the holder one way. So, if you've never used them before, or if you feel like you're a klutz in the lab, there's really no way to screw it up. The holder itself is auto-adjustable, so it can be used with any type of column. It has a reusable ferrule with a PEEK side that fits into the port, and a metal side that faces the nut to securely grip the tubing for tightening.

Now, when it comes time to make all these connections for the line that comes from the autosampler to the guard column inlet, you want to have a wrench-tight seal up to 20,000 psi. On the column side, you have a couple of options. You can use a hand-tight to about 9000 psi, or for UHPLC system, you'd want to go with a wrench-tight connection, which is a quarter to a half turn past hand-tight, and that will seal up to 20,000 psi. Now, the coolest thing about this EXP holder is that when it comes time to change the guard cartridge, all you have to do is open the holder, remove the old cartridge, insert the new one, and hand-tight to connect it back together. That's really all there is, so it makes this routine maintenance very easy.

Thanks for joining us, and stay tuned for more tech tips from your friends at Restek.