Guard Columns
Connecting HPLC column with precolumn holder (direct and indirect coupling)
If you want to protect your column from contamination by connecting a precolumn cartridge upstream, you always need a precolumn holder as well. At Analytics-Shop you will find HPLC precolumns from all well-known manufacturers, from Agilent Technologies and Chiral to Macherey-Nagel, Merck, Thermo Scientific, Waters and Whatman. High quality and at the same time very affordable alternatives of precolumns and columns are products of our house brand Altmann Analytik.
Indirect pre-column holders are compatible with the common columns of all manufacturers. For this you need an additional column connector as an intermediate piece between column and pre-column holder. The following graphic shows the connection possibilities if you need a pre-column for an HPLC column (column connectors must be ordered separately):
Selecting precolumns of the appropriate length for HPLC columns
In general, the length of the precolumn should not exceed 10 percent of the column. We therefore recommend
- for columns with length up to 50 mm: precolumns with length 5 mm
- for columns with length from 60 mm to 199 mm: precolumns with length 10 mm
- for columns with length of 200 mm and larger: precolumns with length 20 mm