Used Waters Acquity UPLC H-Class System

The Waters ACQUITY UPLC H-Class System​ is a premier quaternary solvent-based ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) platform engineered to deliver superior resolution, speed, and sensitivity for analytical laboratories. It bridges the gap between traditional HPLC flexibility and the high-pressure demands of modern UPLC, making it ideal for method development, routine analysis, and high-throughput screening in pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and research applications.

Core System Architecture

The system is built around a modular design featuring a Quaternary Solvent Manager (QSM), a Sample Manager with Flow-Through Needle (SM-FTN), and advanced column heating capabilities.

• Quaternary Solvent Manager (QSM): This low-pressure mixing, high-pressure pumping system supports the dynamic blending of up to four solvents (expandable to nine with optional valves). It operates at pressures up to 15,000 psi and delivers precise gradients with eleven different curve shapes, ensuring accurate mobile phase composition even with complex solvent combinations.

• Sample Manager-FTN (SM-FTN): The system utilizes a direct-flow needle injector design. This configuration seals effectively at high pressures, enabling precise injection volumes from 0.1 µL to 1 mL. It features minimal carryover (≤0.004%) and a rapid injection cycle (≤30 seconds), which is critical for maximizing throughput in high-volume labs.

• Column Management: The system incorporates an active pre-heater and a column heater/manager capable of housing up to six columns with independent temperature control (4–90 °C). This "eCord" technology tracks column usage history, aiding in method reproducibility and column lifecycle management.

Performance Advantages

The H-Class system is designed to leverage the benefits of sub-2µm particle chemistry, offering significant performance gains over conventional HPLC.

• Enhanced Resolution & Speed: By operating at pressures up to 15,000 psi, the system achieves faster separations with narrower peaks and higher peak capacity. This results in shorter run times and improved detection limits for trace analytes.

• Method Flexibility: The quaternary pump design allows for easy method development and solvent screening. Features like Auto•Blend Plus​ technology automate the preparation of pH-buffered mobile phases directly within the system, reducing manual errors and preparation time.

• Seamless Method Transfer: SmartStart​ gradient technology automatically compensates for system dwell volume differences, allowing methods to be transferred from HPLC to UPLC or between different ACQUITY systems without re-developing the gradient profile.

Detection and Data Management

The platform is compatible with a wide array of detectors, including Photodiode Array (PDA), Tunable UV (TUV), Fluorescence (FLR), and various Mass Spectrometry (MS) interfaces. It is controlled by Waters' industry-standard software suites—Empower​ for chromatography data and MassLynx​ for MS integration—ensuring data integrity and compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., FDA 21 CFR Part 11).

In summary, the Waters ACQUITY UPLC H-Class System provides a robust, flexible, and high-performance solution for scientists requiring the method development ease of a quaternary system combined with the separation power of UPLC technology.