Column temperature can impact peak shape, retention, and backpressure. Sometimes it can even affect the column’s ability to resolve certain analytes. In this post, we ask whether your LC column temperature should be controlled and look at the various methods available to do so.

Chances are, if you’ve worked in a laboratory setting for even a short period of time, you’ve heard the term second source as it relates to standards tossed around like a football in a championship game.  But what defines second source, or for that matter “source”?

I recently spoke to a customer who said she was having a difficult time finding the catalog number of the column she was trying to order. I asked for the catalog number, and she provided 70112-6850. I instantly knew what…

If your chromatography degrades quickly after injecting samples (or standards) that contain matrix, the following suggestions may help increase the numbers of injections before routine maintenance (trimming the column, replacing the injection port liner, cleaning the injection port, etc.) is needed.

The primary goal of the GC oven temperature program is to maximize the peak capacity of our chromatogram. Temperature programming, when paired with constant flow (pressure programmed GC) allows us to maintain sharp narrow peaks throughout the entire chromatographic run.

Please note that (generally speaking) Restek does not recommend using any particle-containing GC column when using a mass spectrometer as the detector.  Particles will likely make their way into the detector/pumps even with a particle trap installed.  However, if you do plan to use a PLOT column with a mass spec, you should consider the suggestions below to minimize the number of particles which may make their way into your detector.