The data collection rate is the number of data points per second (Hz) that the Chromeleon software collects from the detector and stores as raw data.
When you select a data collection rate, observe the following guidelines:
In general, each peak should be defined by at least 20 data points. For chromatograms with co-eluting peaks or low signal-to-noise ratios, 40 data points per peak are recommended.
If the data collection rate is too low, the start points, maxima, and end points of peaks will not be determined accurately.
If the data collection rate is too high, data files may need more disk space and post-run analyses may require more processing time.
If all peaks are relatively wide, select a lower data collection rate (for example, 1.0 Hz). This saves disk space and allows for a faster display of data in the Chromeleon software.
If any peaks of interest are less than a few seconds, select a higher data collection rate (10.0 Hz, for example).
Multiple wavelength applications
In multiple wavelength applications, baseline noise increases compared to single-channel data acquisition. This is especially the case if the data rate is set to the maximum or close to the maximum. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio, select a lower data collection rate.