Hints & Tips for Reducing Solvent Useage

Use a smaller column

If the resolution of your separation allows, then simply shortening the column length from 250mm to 150mm will reduce solvent usage by 40%. A more dramatic saving in solvent usage can be made by reducing the internal diameter of a column, together with an appropriate scaling down in the flow rate. Separation efficiencies can be recovered by also reducing particle size. Please consult our convenient solvent saving tool to help you calculate how much solvent you can save by reducing column dimensions.

Use a less hydrophobic stationary phase

The use of a less hydrophobic phase can be used to reduce solvent consumption. For example, when running an isocratic method, replacing a C18 column with C8 will reduce retention and if running a gradient, analytes will elute at lower organic concentrations. The net result is that run times, and therefore solvent consumption, can be reduced.

Increase the temperature

Higher temperatures can also be used to reduce retention although selectivity may change. At extremely high temperatures, the elution strength of water is increased (due to decreased dielectric constant) and pure aqueous mobile phase may be used.