Today's lesson learned

[beige_alert]

When programming an LC method on the LTQ, make sure you get the flow rate correct and don’t just accept the default. The default is five times the rate we are currently using, and so as soon as the method started, the fittings all started popping off and leaking. We couldn’t figure out why, since the system is only running at around 80 bar, which by “High Pressure Liquid Chromatography” standards isn’t all that high. Well, the pressure goes up a bunch when the system bumps up the flow rate by a factor of five. That’s why.