r/labrats • u/Special-Ad6731 • 1d ago

Chromatography column cracked and fractured

A GE Superdex 200 Increase 5/150 GL column of our lab was just found cracked and fractured (not the resin inside, the actual glass column body). We asked around, but nobody's admitted to mishandling it yet. We'd want to rule out the possibility of it happening spontaneously before going through the CCTV footage and pointing fingers. Has anyone known a column body cracking for no apparent reason (maybe room temperature dropping or internal pressure)? Many thanks!

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24

u/Between3and20again 1d ago

Superdex and Sephadex resin in particular will crack the glass column if stored in ethanol cold and then allowed to warm to room temperature. I’ve seen it twice with large scale columns and the first time we blamed the cleaning crew until it happened again and we learned.

Also you can empty it, buy a new cylinder, and pack it again. But those tricorns are not enjoyable to pack

6

u/Special-Ad6731 1d ago

Thanks for the insight! May I ask what did you do to prevent this from happening again after you noticed the cause? Do you stop storing the column in ethanol at 4C, or avoid the 4C/RT warming while its in ethanol? Thanks again.

12

u/mdwsl 1d ago

If they have those springy end caps they shouldn’t break due to expansion or contraction since extra liquid can go into/out of them. Yours has one on top.

Also, those tiny columns can take like 20 bar of pressure

3

u/Between3and20again 23h ago

Ya this guys right. I was using way bigger columns that can’t handle pressure like that and we would just cap the ends.

To answer your question we would just stopped the warming to RT in ethanol.

3

u/Danandcats 22h ago edited 22h ago

Apparently you can't manually pack the increase resin in the modern smaller columns, according to Cytiva anyway.

Admittedly I've never tried. I'd check the price of the hardware vs a new column and see if it's worth the faff before attempting.

Edit to add- I've just noticed it's a 5/150, I really wouldn't bother trying to repack unless you are super desperate. If it was purchased fairly recently just tell Cytiva it turned up like that. Worst they can do is tell you to jog on.

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u/Between3and20again 22h ago

I’ve repacked these before but it is super hard and I’m pretty sure it’s more luck than skill. The 5mm diameter is so small you start to see capillary effects

2

u/Danandcats 21h ago

Was that with the standard superdex resin though?

It used to be the same resin no matter the column size but a few years ago they switched to superdex increase in the 10/300 and 5/150 columns. I believe the difference is something to do with pressure resistance.

I wouldn't go as far as saying it's impossible but it'll be bloody hard and the manufacturer tells you it can't be done (if you believe them of course).

Fair play to anyone who manages it but definitely beyond my level of patience 😹

1

u/Between3and20again 20h ago

Oh ya I would have been using superdex75. What is the increase resin? For higher pressures?

1

u/Danandcats 19h ago

Yeah as far as I'm aware, it came out in the last few years and you can run the columns that use tricorn hardware at higher pressures as a result.

The s75/200 and superose6 (probably the 12 too but not sure) in the smaller columns now are all the "increase" type. No change to separation though I don't think.

35

u/unclekoo1aid 1d ago

I recommend avoiding cctv footage and finger pointing regardless. no one did his on purpose and it can be used as group learning experience.

16

u/PristineAnt9 1d ago

Exactly, if it was done by someone they likely feel terrible and the question is why is your work culture set up in such a way that they don’t feel comfortable coming forward. People not being able to admit mistakes is a safety issue.

2

u/garfield529 9h ago

I agree. I’ve been around groups that stress the hell out of their people and it doesn’t change habits. Make it teachable and expand to other lab equipment. Destroying an otherwise good person over a $2500 column isn’t worth it in my opinion and experience. Now, I knew an idiot that totally wrecked an LC/MS system; that guy got some words.