4
GPC
EcoSEC HIGH TEMPERATURE GPC SYSTEM
PERFORMANCE MEANS BASELINE STABILITY
Incorporated into the design of our two pump delivery sys-
tem is 40+ years experience in engineering. The EcoSEC
High Temperature GPC System has a unique dual flow de-
sign which includes the use of two pumps. Figure 1 demon-
strates the flow paths of the sample and reference pumps.
The sample pump flows solvent from the solvent reservoir
through the following system components in sequence:
autosampler, analytical column, sample side of RI detector
cell, and waste container. The solvent flows via the refer-
ence pump from the solvent reservoir through a reference
column, the reference side of the RI detector cell, and then
the waste container. The entire flow system is temperature
controlled to eliminate the effects of fluctuations in ambi-
ent temperature.
On the EcoSEC High Temperature GPC System the RI base-
line is considered stabilized when the drift in the signal is
3.0 x 10
-7
RIU/h or less. When a new set of columns is manu-
ally placed on the EcoSEC High Temperature GPC System
and the flow rate and temperature controls are started, the
RI baseline stabilizes after 3 hours. Figure 2 demonstrates
the equilibration time from start-up of the EcoSEC High
Temperature GPC System in orthodichlorobenzene (ODCB).
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
50
RI
Column oven temperature
100
150
200
100
-100
200
-200
-300
-400
-500
-600
Detector response (mV)
Temperature (˚C)
Retention time (minutes)
REFRACTIVE INDEX DETECTOR SIGNAL DURING EQUILIBRATION
OF THE EcoSEC HIGH TEMPERATURE GPC SYSTEM
Column: TSKgel GMH
HR
-H(S) HT2, 13 µm, 7.8 mm ID × 30 cm L × 2
Mobile phase: ODCB with 0.05% BHT; Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min;
Detection: RI (EcoSEC High Temperature GPC System); Temp.: 145 °C
FIGURE 2
Solvent
Waste
Injection
Sample
Pump
Reference
Pump
Analytical
Reference
Reference
Cell
Sample
Cell
RI Detector
FIGURE 1
FLOW PATHS OF SAMPLE AND REFERENCE PUMPS IN THE EcoSEC HIGH TEMPERATURE GPC SYSTEM
