The poster that could put Bart’s Blog out of a job

Can you fit the most precious knowledge on how to perform successful purifications on an A0 poster? Well, we managed to do it for you. Find a handful of the material that you need to achieve fantastic chromatography results in this blog post. And see how you can get your free poster for a full-blown chromatography overview that will get you eager to start your next flash or prep HPLC run immediately.

I found a four-leaf clover in my garden the other day. I wanted to save it, so I placed it in between the pages of an old biochemistry textbook to dry it and preserve it. When I opened the book, some of my old study notes fell out, including a page filled with scribbles on the glycolysis pathway, kreb’s cycle and electron transport chain. Ah, those lovely cheat sheets that professors allowed us to make with the hope that if we would at least write out the processes, we might even remember them. The trick worked for the final exams and I even possess some vague knowledge on these topics years on.

So of course I thought about how useful it would be to have a little cheat sheet for chromatography. And luckily (no thanks to the four-leaf clover though), our team at BUCHI just made one for all you chromatography enthusiasts to stick on your lab wall. Or your wall at home, depending on your level of enthusiasm.

What can you find in there? Well, let me give you a little preview.

chromatography poster, flash chromatography, prep HPLC, preparative HPLC, chromatography principles, chromatography basics

What is a good general approach for developing a flash or prep HPLC method?

First, you need to define the type of purification method based on the target. If you plan to load a lot of sample, then flash chromatography is the way to go. If you aim for high resolution, then prep HPLC is the more suitable approach. Then you need to check the polarity of the sample and select the appropriate solvent system. The poster gives hints and the blog has also dedicated posts on how to find the best mobile phases and stationary phases.

Perform an analytical method prior to the purification. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is more suitable for use prior to flash chromatography, whereas analytical HPLC can help develop a prep HPLC method. Use TLC or analytical HPLC to screen for optimal stationary and mobile phase selectivity. Then upscale to either prep HPLC or flash chromatography. Lastly, remember to optimize efficiency and resolution. Conveniently, the poster is full of tips on how to achieve excellent resolution.

If you want to learn more details about how to use TLC to develop a flash chromatography method, then read more in one of my already published blog posts.

What are some common solvents used in flash and prep HPLC?

Common solvents used with a normal phase stationary phase such as silica, include hexane ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and methanol.

Solvents that are frequently used in reversed phase chromatography, commonly with bonded silica C18, include acetonitrile, water, ethanol and methanol.

How do I take proper care of my cartridges to extend their lifetime and save on costs?

I already have a detailed blog post on this particular topic, but the poster offers a nice summary answer.

First, select the appropriate cartridge for your purpose using helpful apps like FlashPure Scout. Once you find Mr. Right Cartridge and want to love and keep him forever, this is how you can keep him in a good shape.

Importantly, make sure you stay below the maximal pressure limit. If you reuse your cartridge, then store it in 100% isoproponal or hexane if normal phase or in 80%/20% organic solvent/water if reverse phase. Do not use 100% water with C18 material to avoid phase collapse. And make sure your cartridge never dries out or it will die out.

This is all interesting, but by far not enough? Then download the whole chromatography poster and access all information that is necessary for you to perform a successful separation.

The poster is pretty awesome, there is no doubt. But if you’ve been following the blog on a regular basis, you’d know my posts, with the benefit of space, can afford to offer much more detail. So if the poster is your cheat sheet, let the blog be your textbook chapters. Stay curious, stay informed and grow your chromatography knowledge by continuing to drop by the blog.

Till next time,

The Signature of Bart Denoulet at Bart's Blog