Yes. Detailed instructions for conditioning SPE cartridges can be found below. All SPE cartridges should be conditioned to wet and settle the bed, activate the packing materials, and remove any residual process materials (e.g., fines).
As a general guide:
- Use one to two column volumes of the conditioning solution(s) recommended in the table below.
- Use a high flow rate.
- Do not allow the packing bed to go dry. The packing bed should be wet before adding sample.
Characteristics of Reversed- and Normal Phase SPE
| Packing | Polarity | Sample Matrix | Conditioning Solution(s) | Elution Solution |
| C18, carbon | packing and analytes are nonpolar | polar, often aqueous | (9a) methanol, then water or buffer (same as sample), or (9b) final extraction solvent, then water-miscible solvent, then water or buffer | nonpolar solvent or mixed solvent solution |
| silica, Florisil, carbon | packing and analytes are polar | nonpolar, often an organic solvent | fresh solvent (same as sample) | fresh solvent |
