ABSTRACT
In a recent survey of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) users, over 40% rated the pump as the component that required the highest scrutiny [1]. In the early days of HPLC, the percentage probably would have been much higher, because the pumps were the most troublesome module. Reliability and ease of use have improved tremendously, but potential customers are still wary: and they should be. The goal in writing this chapter is to help the user understand the sources of trouble and error that can originate in the mobile-phase system. A secondary goal is to explain the evolution of HPLC pumps, especially if this reinforces the first goal. This chapter will assume that the reader is familiar with the basic operation of an HPLC.
