Peak Doubling Causes and Solutions

 

Cause                                                                                       Solution

Blocked frit Replace or clean frit; install 0.5-um porosity in-line filter between pump and injector to eliminate mobile-phase contaminants or between injector and column to eliminate sample contaminants
Coelution of interfering compound Use sample cleanup or prefractionation; adjust selectivity by changing mobile or stationary phase
Coelution of interfering compound from previous injection Flush column with strong solvent at end of ran; end gradient at higher solvent concentration
Column overloaded Use higher-capacity stationary phase; increase column diameter; decrease sample amount
Column void or channeling Replace column, or, if possible, open top endfitting and clean and fill void with glass beads or same column packing; repack column
Injection solvent too strong Use weaker injection solvent or stronger mobile phase
Sample volume too large Use injection volume equal to one-sixth of column volume when sample prepared in mobile phase for injection
Unswept injector flow path Replace injector rotor