Why does a virtually pulseless FPLC pumping module drastically effect the performance of an FPLC System

There are countless benefits of employing a virtually pulseless pump in FPLC systems. Discover the advantages of detector accuracy. Consistent flow enhances protein purification and ensures the accuracy and quality of your fractions.

In protein purification, precision is everything, therefore quality FPLC components are essential.   From sample injection to fraction collection, every module of your Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) system plays a critical part in ensuring accurate, consistently reproducible results. The FPLC pump module is the heart of the FPLC system. A virtually pulseless FPLC pump module can significantly improve the quality of your purified protein.

Many chromatographers still run their FPLC system with a standard reciprocating pump that produces pressure pulsations. If you are one of them, you may be compromising peak resolution, gradient stability, and UV detector performance. Switch to a virtually pulseless FPLC pumping module and realize higher protein purification yields.

What are the benefits of a virtually pulseless pump?

A virtually pulseless pump delivers a continuously smooth flow of liquid without fluctuations in flow rate. FPLC systems typically use standard reciprocating piston pumps, which create pressure pulsation or flow pulsation. These pulsations are created due to the switch over from one piston to the next.

Virtually pulseless pumps utilizing independently controlled dual linear drives with proprietary smoothing algorithms create the most consistent flow possible. Steady flow performance offers major benefits for your FPLC system.

1. Improved Gradient Consistency and Reproducibility

The accuracy of your gradient depends on consistent flow rates from the FPLC pump(s) delivering buffer A and buffer B. Pulsations in flow disturb gradient formation causing erratic protein elution profiles, poor reproducibility and inferior resolution.

Virtually pulseless flow ensures precise gradient control, providing cleaner separations and more reproducible retention times. These benefits are crucial for FPLC development and scaling up your FPLC purification method.

2. Enhanced Detector Stability and Accuracy

    FPLC UV detectors, conductivity and pH monitors require a steady flow of buffer through the flow cell. In systems that have standard pumps there will be fluctuations in the UV detector baseline                         even when no proteins are eluting. These baseline fluctuations can obscure small protein peaks, affect the quantification and produce spurious noise in the chromatogram.

3. Better Fraction Collection Precision

When your FPLC system collects protein fractions based on UV absorbance or volume, pulsating flow can impede accurate fraction collection. The result can cause peak tailing across multiple tubes, loss of protein yield, contaminated or diluted fractions. 

When using a virtually pulseless pump, the pumping module delivers buffer at a constant and reproducible flow rate, which ensures accurate fraction collecting and crisper separations.

4. Minimal Maintenance Due To Less Mechanical Wear

Repetitive stress on your hardware causes premature failure of system valves, detector flow cells, tubing, fittings and seals.The result of this repetitive stress leads to increased leaks and wear, more frequent valve maintenance and FPLC system downtime.

Virtually pulseless pumps operate more smoothly, minimizing wear on FPLC components and extending the lifespan of your FPLC system.

  5. Longer Lasting Columns

FPLC pump pulsations over time prematurely compact your chromatography resin. This leads to loss of column resolution and premature failure of the column. Virtually pulseless FPLC pumps operate more consistently preventing pounding on the head of your column and ultimately extending the lifespan of your FPLC column.

6. More Reliable Baselines

A virtually pulseless FPLC pump flow profile provides sharper chromatographic peaks resulting in more stable baselines. 

In FPLC pumping modules, accurate and reproducible flow is critically important. ONLY virtually pulseless pumps deliver that accuracy!

Whether you’re purifying proteins, antibodies, or nucleic acids, a smooth and uninterrupted flow improves every step of your purification. Better detector performance, sharper peaks, cleaner fractions and reduced wear-and-tear on both your FPLC system and column are some of the benefits of a virtually pulseless pump.

Consider custom building a modular FPLC system,  a virtually pulseless pump is one of the most valuable improvements you can make. In FPLC,  precision begins with flow.

Do you have interest in the benefits of a virtually pulseless pump? If so, we are happy to help you choose the right model based on your flow rate, pressure range, and application needs.