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How to Use Peristaltic Pumps for Fast Changes

Peristaltic pumps are widely used in chemistry to provide a means of transferring a liquid from one location to another. Instrumentation also makes use of peristaltic pumps to bring solutions together for a reaction to occur. A unique property of these pumps is that only the inner surface of the flexible tubing is wetted with the chemicals. The fluid being pumped is changeable and the flow rate of the pumping can vary by simply changing the pump tubing. Changing the pump tubing is a rapid and easy way to change the experimental parameters during runs.

Things You'll Need

Peristaltic pump tubing

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the tubing line that you desire to change. You may change the tubing line on the pump to increase or decrease the flow rate of the liquid, change the chemical or solvent being pumped or replace a contaminated line in the experimental setup.
- 2
  Select the replacement tubing you will use. Tubing is available in a variety of inner diameters, which will change the flow rate of the reagent stream based on the speed of the pump.
- 3
  Remove the pressure on the reagent line you will change. The pressure exerted on the line by the rotating head of the pump causes fluid to be pushed downstream.
- 4
  Remove the inlet and outlet lines from the ends of the flexible peristaltic tubing. These lines are connected to the solvent reservoir on one side of the pump and the downstream part of the experimental apparatus on the other side.
- 5
  Connect the inlet and outlet lines to the new piece of tubing. Replace the tubing on the pump and reapply pressure to the tubing. Once the pressure is replaced, fluid will continue flowing through the system.
- 6
  Change the speed on the pump roller head if you need to change the flow rate of the fluid in the tubing. You can slow the rate of fluid transfer or speed it up by adjusting the speed of rotation of the peristaltic pump.

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