Equilibrating the Chromatography System (SmartStartup)

Before you can start analyzing your samples, you have to equilibrate the chromatography system. (This is especially important if the system has not been used for an extended period of time or if the analysis conditions have changed.) In Chromeleon, equilibration can be automated. A SmartStartup Wizard provides step-by-step help for creating an equilibration program.

SmartStartup means that:

• The entire system, including the column, is flushed with the starting solvent until the system is free of any other liquid composition.

• All temperature-controlled devices installed in the system (column thermostat, thermostatted autosampler, heated conductivity cell, etc.), are warmed or cooled to the starting temperature.

• The pressure ripple is checked.

• If a UV detector is installed, the lamp(s) is checked for stability (to prevent increased Drift or Signal Noise) and the wavelength(s) is calibrated.

• If a conductivity or electrochemical detector is installed, the signal drift and noise is checked.

• Depending on the devices installed in the system, other conditions may be set and monitored during equilibration. For example, if an eluent generator is installed, the percentage of ions remaining is checked and the concentration is set.

In combination with the SmartShutdown program, the standby program enables you to quickly prepare a dual system (for example, an UltiMate 3000 x2 Dual-Gradient System, an ICS-3000 dual system, or an ICS-5000 dual system) for a different method of analysis.

To start the SmartStartup wizard

On the Batch menu, click SmartStartup... , or click the icon on the Online Toolbar:  

The SmartStartup Wizard guides you through the following steps:

 Selecting the Timebase

 Extracting the Equilibration Conditions

 Editing the Equilibration Conditions

 Starting Equilibration

Supported Instruments:

SmartStartup  is currently supported for the Summit, UltiMate 3000 and Vanquish systems (excluding the modules for nano and cap), and the following IC systems and modules; ICS-3000,  ICS-5000, ICS-Series Photodiode Array Detector, ICS-Series Variable Wavelength Detector, and AS-AP Autosampler.

Tip:

SmartStartup is also available if two timebases are sharing a device.