High dead volume pumps: delay time reduction by short-term low-ratio split flow in LC/MS applications

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Chromatography
• Mass Spectrometry

Background:

• Standard High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) pumps often have high dead volumes, leading to extended analysis times.
• Fast system equilibration is crucial for efficient Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) workflows.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective and simple solution to decrease LC/MS analysis time.
• To overcome limitations imposed by high dead volume in conventional HPLC pumps.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a temporary, low-ratio (approx. 1:10) flow split at a high pump flow rate (5 mL/min) before the chromatography column.
• Directing 90% of the pump flow to waste for a short duration (under 1 minute) to achieve rapid system equilibration.

Main Results:

• The developed method significantly reduces the time required for pump and system equilibration.
• This approach enables faster overall LC/MS analysis without compromising reliability.

Conclusions:

• Short-term, low-ratio flow splitting is a novel and effective strategy for accelerating LC/MS analyses in conventional setups.
• This technique offers a practical solution for improving throughput in routine LC/MS applications.