Consult this table to obtain the approximate wavelength cutoff values for solvents, buffers, detergents, and mobile phases.
The solvent concentrations represented are those most commonly used. If you want to use a different concentration, you can determine approximate absorbance using Beer’s law, because absorbance is proportional to concentration.
Notes:
- λ (or UV) cutoff is the wavelength at which the absorbance of the solvent equals 1 AU.
- Operating at a wavelength near or below the cutoff increases baseline noise because of solvent absorbance.
Table 1.
Wavelength cutoffs for various mobile phases
| Mobile phase |
λ cutoff (nm) |
| Acetic acid, 1% |
230 |
| Ammonium acetate, 10 mM |
205 |
| Ammonium bicarbonate, 10 mM |
190 |
| 3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), 0.1% |
215 |
| Diammonium phosphate, 50 mM |
205 |
| Disodium EDTA, 1 mM |
190 |
| 4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), 10 mM, pH 7.6 |
225 |
| Hydrochloric acid, 0.1% |
190 |
| 2-(N-Morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES), 10 mM, pH 6.0 |
215 |
| 4-Octylphenol polyethoxylate (Triton X-100), 0.1% |
240 |
| Polyoxyethylene (35) lauryl ether (Brij 35), 0.1% |
190 |
| Potassium phosphate, dibasic, 10 mM |
190 |
| Potassium phosphate, monobasic, 10 mM |
190 |
| Sodium acetate, 10 mM |
205 |
| Sodium chloride, 1 M |
207 |
| Sodium citrate, 10 mM |
225 |
| Sodium dodecyl sulfate, 0.1% |
190 |
| Sodium formate, 10 mM |
200 |
| Triethylamine, 1% |
235 |
| Trifluoroacetic acid, 0.1% |
190 |
| Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride (Tris HCl), 20 mM, pH 7.0 |
202 |
| Tris HCl, 20 mM, pH 8.0 |
212 |
| Waters Paired-Ion Chromatography (PIC) Reagent A, 1 vial/liter |
200 |
| Waters PIC Reagent B-6, 1 vial/L |
225 |
| Waters PIC Reagent B-6, low UV, 1 vial/L |
190 |
| Waters PIC Reagent D-4, 1 vial/L |
190 |
Contents
Wavelength selection
