Agilent 1200 Fraction Collector

The Agilent 1200 Series Analytical Fraction Collector (G1364C) and Fraction Collector Thermostat (G1330B) together form a high-precision, automated post-column sample recovery solution for Agilent 1100/1200/1260 Infinity HPLC systems, widely deployed in natural product purification, peptide and oligonucleotide fractionation, metabolite profiling, and bio-pharmaceutical downstream sample preparation where accurate, contamination-free collection of target peaks is critical. The G1364C is an analytical-scale fraction collector engineered for flow rates from 0.01 mL/min up to 10 mL/min (extendable to higher flows with preparative valve configurations) and is capable of handling a broad variety of collection vessels including 2 mL autosampler vials (40- or 100-position trays), 6 mL vials, 3 mL to 15 mL test tubes in assorted rack formats, and standard 96-well or 384-well deep-well plates. The module features a three-way (3/2) low-dead-volume diverter valve with a switching time of less than 100 ms and a maximum pressure rating of 6 bar, ensuring minimal peak broadening during fraction cuts. One of its most valued features is the built-in delay volume calibration system—an inline single-wavelength absorbance sensor at 654 nm that automatically measures the detector-to-needle transit time so the software can perfectly synchronize fraction initiation with the true apex of the chromatographic peak, eliminating the guesswork of manual offset calculation. Collection can be triggered by multiple intelligent modes: time-slice (fixed intervals), peak-based (signal threshold, rising/falling slope detected from a connected UV/DAD/MWD/FLD or MSD), timetable (combined time and peak logic for complex cuts such as heart-cutting or discard of early-eluting matrix), and manual trigger via the Agilent Instant Pilot or ChemStation/OpenLAB CDS. In discrete fraction mode the flow is briefly diverted to waste during arm movement between vessels to avoid mixed fractions; in continuous mode (for microplates) the flow is maintained across wells. The collecting needle can be programmed to immerse to a fixed depth, track the liquid surface, or remain suspended above the meniscus, and an automatic needle wash routine between fractions minimizes carryover to typically below 0.01%. Up to three G1364C units plus one recovery collector can be networked via the CAN bus for high-throughput or parallel-processing workflows, and the module incorporates leak detection sensors, a forced exhaust fan for solvent vapor removal, and Early Maintenance Feedback (EMF) for GLP-compliant preventive servicing and 21 CFR Part 11 compatibility.

The companion G1330B Fraction Collector Thermostat is a Peltier-element-based thermal control unit purpose-built to regulate the temperature of the fraction collector's sample tray and collection chamber, maintaining setpoints from 4 °C to 40 °C (±0.5 °C typical accuracy; ±0.1–0.5 °C under stable ambient conditions) to protect thermally labile analytes—such as proteins, enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acids, and unstable natural products—from degradation during and after collection. The G1330B mounts directly beneath or adjacent to the G1364C tray assembly and communicates via the Agilent CAN bus, allowing the thermostat setpoint to be embedded directly into the HPLC method so that temperature ramps with the run sequence. It reaches the target temperature typically within 5–10 minutes, uses an integrated circulation fan for uniform thermal distribution across all vial positions, and operates on 100–240 VAC wide-range power with a consumption of approximately 210 W. When paired, the G1364C + G1330B combination enables unattended, walk-away fractionation of complex mixtures with peak-triggered intelligence, validated delay-volume compensation, minimal cross-contamination, and temperature-controlled stability of collected fractions—making it equally suitable for academic natural-products research, pharma lead-optimization compound library prep, proteomics bottom-up peptide mapping, and QC release testing of purified biologics. The entire system is controlled through Agilent ChemStation or OpenLAB CDS software, supporting full audit trails, electronic signatures, and method export/import for multi-site standardization.

Technical Specifications