Anders Grahn details the importance of real-time data for HPLC pumps
High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is currently one of the most widely used techniques in analytical chemistry. Applications using HPLC cover a wide range of sample types, concentrations and compositions. This extreme flexibility is achieved by using specific columns carefully designed for each particular investigation. All HPLC separations have one detail in common: they are reliant on a stable and constant flow rate of solvent achieved by constant performance of the HPLC pump. A novel method of continuous monitoring of flow rate can provide real-time validation of the total HPLC system performance leading to improved reliability of results.
Traditional methods
Up to now, direct determination of flow rate has been limited to system validation using volumetric flowmeters, or, when monitoring was required, by use of Coriolis Force flowmeters.
Although volumetric flowmeters are known to be accurate, the method they use is relatively slow as measurement requires that a known volume must be filled and time difference must be detected in order to obtain a single data value. As such, volumetric flowmeters integrate over a relatively large volume (often several hundred microlitres) and are not suitable for delivering “real time” flow information.
Coriolis force flowmeters are well proven for providing very accurate flow measurement in HPLC systems; however they are quite expensive, making them a cost-prohibitive solution.
A new technological approach
Introduced in 2021, the new Biotech liquid flowmeter is based around a thermal flow sensor (Fig. 1).
In the liquid flowmeter, the solvent flows through a quartz tube. Temperature sensors (T1 and T2) are positioned before and after a heating element that elevates the solvent temperature slightly. It can be demonstrated that the difference in temperature measured by the two sensors is function of the flow rate in the quartz tube. Using a proprietary algorithm this temperature difference is then converted into absolute flow rate units. Not only is this flow measurement technique extremely accurate and sensitive, but it also offers the advantage of being non-invasive, so flow is not interrupted in any way.
Consequently, using this flow measurement method, the Biotech liquid flowmeter has the potential to be an ideal tool for monitoring solvent flow rates in HPLC systems as it does not interfere with the measurement itself.
Pump monitoring feasibility study
Feasibility of continuous monitoring of a relatively simple HPLC system, consisting of isocratic pump, sample injector and differential refractive index (DRI) detector was carried out using a liquid flowmeter. No column was used to enable the experiment to focus strictly on HPLC pump performance and avoid any flow variation due to the column (such as column bleeding). Pure deionised water was used as the solvent for the experiment, flow rate was set to a nominal 1,000mL/min. The flowmeter was connected to the outlet of the DRI detector and the outlet of the flowmeter was then led to a waste bottle. Data acquisition of flow rate values was realised using the flowmeter’s USB port, which also provides power supply to the device, and a PC. Data rate was approximately 15Hz or 15 values per second. The pump flow was then started along with data acquisition. The experiment was run continuously for several days, with daily replenishment with fresh deionised water.
Results
The complete flow stability data collected over several days is far too large to be displayed here; therefore, a representative 6,000 second segment is used in Fig. 2. to illustrate typical data output using the liquid flowmeter to monitor an HPLC pump.
The Fig. 2 plot shows the flow rate to be close to the nominal 1,000mL/min and appearing to be very stable over time. However, if this data is studied in high-resolution (see Fig. 3), the variation of flow from the HPLC system can be clearly seen.
Conclusions
This experiment clearly demonstrates the ability of the liquid flowmeter in combination with the Flow app to collect real-time flow data from an HPLC pump and therefore determine total HPLC system performance.
The high-resolution, real-time flow data that can be obtained using a liquid flowmeter opens the gate to deeper analysis of HPLC pump performance parameters – such as pulsation – thereby allowing a stricter definition of required parameters for reliable HPLC separation results. Furthermore, this technology offers a completely new tool for troubleshooting of HPLC systems that will be the subject of future investigations.
There is also potential for using this new flowmeter in many other applications where it is necessary to have close control of the flow rate. Other scientific analytical instrumentation such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), different types of imaging systems and DNA analysers are examples of high-performance systems where it is important to have the flow rate well controlled.
Dispensing is another area where anomalies of flow rate could cause severe deviations. Flow chemistry applications, where the addition of small volumes of reagents could have a big impact on the final result, are also dependent on accurate flow rates.
Anders Grahn is chairman of Biotech
