Automatic Optimization of Sample Solvent Composition for Achieving Sharp Peak Shapes

User Benefits

- The automatic pretreatment function integrated into the autosampler enables efficient optimization of sample solvent composition, which can be automatically adjusted during analysis. - The desired composition of sample solvent can be easily specified via the LabSolutions MD interface.

Introduction

In LC analysis, the composition of the sample solvent is critical for achieving proper peak shape. If the sample solvent is a stronger eluting solvent than the mobile phase, sample band condensation at the column inlet may be insufficient, leading to sample band broadening. For instance, increasing the organic solvent ratio in the sample solvent to dissolve low-polar compounds may deteriorate the peak shapes of early-eluting compounds in reversed-phase chromatography. Therefore, determining the optimal ratio of organic solvent in the sample solvent is essential. However, manually preparing multiple solvent compositions is extremely time-consuming. The automatic pretreatment function of the autosamplers (Nexera series), in combination with the method development support software LabSolutions MD, enables consecutive analyses using different sample solvent compositions without manual intervention. This allows evaluation of the effect of sample solvent composition on peak shape while significantly reducing the labor involved in optimization. In this study, we demonstrate the automated determination of the optimal sample solvent composition using metoclopramide, a small-molecule drug, as a model compound.

August 31, 2025 GMT