MilliporeSigma™ Supelco™ Capillary Column Butt Connector

Description

• Small (2.3 cm x 0.6 cm) and light (4.4 g with ferrule), it provides a gas tight seal without a change in column efficiency or inertness
• The columns to be connected can have the same or different internal and external diameters
• The butt connection is made inside the special double-tapered ferrule
• The ferrule is then compressed within the housing
• When the column ends are butted squarely and tightly together, the butt connector will not alter the chromatographic performance of your capillary columns
• There is little or no dead volume and little chance of gas flow disruption by following these steps:
• Make sure the bore of the ferrule is clean
• Blow out any ferrule fragments with nitrogen
• Using a magnifier, examine the column ends to be connected
• Make sure each cut is clean and square
• The two ends must butt squarely, without any gaps
• With white typewriter correction fluid, place a reference mark 1/4 inch from the end of the column with the larger bore
• This mark will help you to confirm visually that the end of the column is centered within the 1/2 inch ferrule
• Place the ferrule inside the housing and loosely tighten the nut
• Feed the unmarked column completely through the ferrule and out the opposite end
• Cut off ∼1 inch (25 mm) of the column to ensure no ferrule fragments are in the column
• Draw the column back far enough to insert the marked column into the ferrule to the indicating mark
• Tighten the nut about 1/8 turn past fingertight
• Press the ends of the columns together, observing the reference mark to make certain they butt together at the center of the ferrule
• Tighten the ferrule to about 1/4-1/2 turn past fingertight
• Gently pull on both columns to ensure they are secure
• If they are loose, additional tightening is necessary.Any undetected leaking connection, including this butt connection, can allow oxygen and water vapor to enter the system
• Leak check the butt connector in the same manner as any capillary column connection
• DO NOT USE LIQUID LEAK INDICATORS
• Liquids can contaminate the capillary system
• We recommend using a GOW-MAC electronic leak detector
• These thermal conductivity detectors are highly sensitive to trace amounts of hydrogen or helium, and will not contaminate the system.