Problems Storing HPLC Water?

The use of water in HPLC mobile phases can be a source of many problems. In this blog post we look at the effects of storage and how to prevent storage related problems.

When you make up fresh mobile phase you probably assign an expiry date based on the fact that you know the solvent mixture will be subject to change over time but what you may not consider is the storage of the solvents prior to mobile phase preparation.

In the case of water, this can have significant detrimental effects on your chromatography. The primary reason is that water is a great solvent. It can absorb contaminants via leaching from the container in which it is stored, and it can also absorb contaminants, such as airborne bacteria, from exposure to the atmosphere. These contaminants are likely to increase the total organic carbon (TOC) in the water which in turn can lead to chromatographic problems such as: noisy and drifting baselines; extra (unexpected) peaks, often referred to as 'ghost' peaks, and in extreme cases problems with retention times and peak shapes.

The extent and impact of these effects will depend on the nature of the HPLC method that you are using. For some methods you may not see any detrimental effects and for others it can be absolutely critical. Contaminants are much more likely to show up, and thus create problems, if you are using UV detection at low wavelengths, in the area of  ~ 210nm, or sensitive mass spectrometry. In these cases it would be worth investigating the effects of water storage and source (e.g., lab purification system vs. bought in bottled water) as part of robustness in method development so that the problem and issues are understood fully before the method is in routine use.

To prevent these problems (or reduce them as much as possible) the following is advised:

• Don't store water, get it fresh before use.
• Discard the first 1-2 litres from the water purification system.
• Use glass containers for water.
• Don't attach plastic tubing to the delivery point of your water purification system.
• Look after your water purification system, maintain it well and don't ignore warning lights!
• For critical methods, investigate the effect of water storage (and source) as part of method development.

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Validation & Transfer of Methods for Biopharmaceutical Analysis

We have decided to split our popular course, 'Validation & Transfer of Methods for Pharmaceutical Analysis', into two versions: one for traditional small molecules - 'Pharmaceutical Analysis'; and another for large molecules - 'Biopharmaceutical Analysis'. Although the content of the two versions will be very similar, this approach will allow use of case studies, scenarios and examples which are tailored to the needs of the learners.

The dates for both versions of the course may be found on the course list page of the MTS website.

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25% Discount on Books

We are offering a 25% discount on our books, 'Validation of Analytical Methods for Pharmaceutical Analysis' and 'An Introduction to HPLC for Pharmaceutical Analysis', as a special end of 2016/beginning of 2017 offer.
Just £22 each (plus shipping if applicable).
Offer ends 31st January 2017.
Visit the MTS website to buy your copies today.

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Course Dates for 2017

The MTS course calendar for 2017 is now available. Click here to view the calendar and visit the course list page on the MTS website for more information on all the available courses.

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MTS Recommends... Application of QbD and QRM to Analytical Method Validation

W. Saffell-Clemmer and J. Karty, "Application of QbD and QRM to Analytical Method Validation,"
Pharmaceutical Technology 40 (11) (November 2016).

"To further understanding of QbD concepts to analytical method development and validation, the tools suggested in the Stimuli article were combined with the guidance in ICH Q2(R1) for this case study, and applied to the validation of a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for Protopam drug substance (Baxter) and Protopam chloride for injection meeting ICH Q3A(R2) and ICH Q3B(R2) standards for impurities."

HPLC Training Courses in Dublin, 6th to 9th February 2017

We are running our series of HPLC courses in Dublin in February 2017.  Aimed at all would-be HPLC users, troubleshooters and method developers. 

The courses are as follows:

How to Run HPLC Methods: Monday 6th February 2017
Ideal for anyone new to HPLC, this course will demystify all the parameters required to run a HPLC method.

How to Troubleshoot HPLC: Tuesday 7th February 2017
Will suit HPLC users who want to be able to keep their HPLC system up and running, by sorting out problems as they occur.

How to Develop HPLCMethods – Part 1: Wednesday 8th February 2017 & How to Develop HPLC Methods– Part 2: Thursday 9th February 2017
These two courses can be taken together or separately and will describe a strategy for selecting the best HPLC method conditions for your separation.

We are offering the following discounts until 9th January 2017:
€350 per person per day, 2 days for €650, 3 days for €950
or 4 days for €1250
Academic discounts and group discounts also available up to 9th January, contact us for a quote.
After 9th January all courses are charged at full price of €425 per person per day.

Includes:

• Comprehensive handouts for each course containing useful reference data.
• Free tools to help you use HPLC efficiently.
• A Certificate of Attendance. There is an optional post training assessment to obtain a Certificate of Training.
• Expert Advice from the MTS trainer on your HPLC problems, both on the day of the training and after the event.

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