An HPLC pump is also called a “solvent delivery system.” The purpose of the pump is to maintain a constant flow of mobile phase through the HPLC system. This is accomplished regardless of the back pressure caused by the flow resistance of the HPLC column. A standard HPLC pump can pump against back pressures up to 6,000 psi where a uHPLC pump typically exceeds 8,500 bar and can go as high as 20,000 psi or more. Most HPLC pumps have a reciprocating dual piston design.
Benefits of HPLC Pumps
HPLC pumps are able to deliver relatively pulseless flows against considerable backpressure. The flow rates are reproducible even when the back-pressure changes. Many HPLC pumps are available as standalone models that are easy to operate. It is also possible to generate gradients. This is useful for HPLC as well as other applications.
HPLC Pump Applications
HPLC pumps are used for a variety of applications in a wide array of industries:
Capabilities of HPLC Pumps
HPLC pumps are capable of pumping the following types of liquids: aqueous buffers, organic solvents, viscous fluids, aggressive fluids, radioactive liquids, brine solutions, and more.
Specification Ranges of HPLC Pumps
Flow rate: one microliter/minute up to one liter/minute
Some pumps can pump down in the nanoliter range and others can exceed one liter/minute.
Back pressure: HPLC pumps can run from 10 psi of back pressure with special check valves to over 20,000 psi uHPLC pumps.
Pump Head Materials of Construction
There is a choice of materials to accommodate a wide variety of liquids that can flow through the pump.
- 316 stainless steel
- titanium
- Hastelloy C
- ceramic
Each material can be employed to best suit the application.
HPLC Pump Configurations
HPLC pumps can be used independently for isocratic or metering applications. When it is necessary to mix multiple solvents or buffers together a choice of high-pressure gradients (using two pumps) or low-pressure gradients (using either a binary or quaternary gradient valve with a built-in degasser) are all options. All of these configurations are available with either self-contained programming or they can be externally controlled by chromatography data systems.
Learn More About Our HPLC Pumps
ICON Scientific offers three different HPLC pump designs: Single Piston Rapid Refill Pumps, Dual Piston Serial Pumps, and Dual Piston Parallel Pumps. Those designs can also be separated into two categories: Analytical Pumps and Preparative Pumps. Most of these pumps can be used for dosing applications as well as flow reaction chemistry. In addition, we offer Pneumatic HPLC Pumps which are used for uHPLC and HPLC column packing.
For more information, view our products page and contact us today. If you are not sure which pump would best suit your application, please call us! We will be happy to answer any technical questions and help you chose the pump that would fit your application.
For more information, view our products page and contact us today.
ICON Scientific, Inc
