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HPLC/UHPLC/SFC Systems
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The Vanguard of Liquid Chromatography
Shimadzu HPLC/UHPLC/SFC Systems
Shimadzu’s liquid chromatography systems, spanning HPLC, UHPLC, and Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC), are engineered to deliver industry-leading performance in both quantitative and qualitative analysis. These systems integrate "Analytical Intelligence" (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) enhancements to automate routine tasks, from instrument startup and mobile phase monitoring to auto-diagnosis and recovery. By utilizing high-pressure tolerance (up to 130 MPa) and specialized technologies like "Active-Path" and "i-PDeA" (Intelligent Peak Deconvolution Analysis), Shimadzu systems ensure exceptional resolution, ultra-low carryover, and high-throughput efficiency.
Whether for pharmaceutical R&D, environmental testing, or food safety, these platforms provide a unified chromatography experience that bridges the gap between conventional and ultra-fast separation modes.
High-Pressure Tolerance and Ultra-Fast Separation
Shimadzu UHPLC systems are technically designed to sustain back-pressures up to 130 MPa, allowing for the use of sub-2 μm particle columns. This high-pressure capability facilitates ultra-fast analysis times and superior peak resolution, enabling laboratories to increase throughput significantly. The system's low delay volume ensures that gradient profiles are delivered with extreme precision, which is critical for the reproducibility of complex separations and for the successful transfer of methods from conventional HPLC to UHPLC environments.
Industry-Leading Injection Precision and Low Carryover
The autosamplers used in Shimadzu systems feature a total-volume injection method with a needle-in-flow-path design. This technical configuration eliminates dead volume and ensures an injection precision of eq 1\%, even for small volumes. To combat carryover the systems employ a multi-rinse function that cleans both the interior and exterior of the needle with multiple solvents. This ensures that even strongly adsorbing compounds are thoroughly removed, maintaining the accuracy of trace-level quantitation.
Intelligent Peak Deconvolution (i-PDeA)
The i-PDeA (Intelligent Peak Deconvolution Analysis) function is a unique technical feature that uses mathematical algorithms to separate overlapping peaks in a photodiode array (PDA) chromatogram. By analyzing the unique spectral data of each component, the software can extract individual peaks that are not physically separated by the column. This allows for the accurate quantitation of impurities hidden under a main peak without the need for additional method development or longer run times, providing a significant advantage in pharmaceutical purity testing.
Advanced Column Management and Intelligent Tags (iCMP)
To ensure the reliability of analytical data, Shimadzu implements the Intelligent Column Management Platform (iCMP). This system utilizes 2D code labels (tags) on the columns and a specialized scanner to automatically link column usage logs with the analysis reports. This technical traceability prevents the use of expired or improper columns and ensures that every result is backed by a complete history of the stationary phase's condition, fulfilling rigorous GxP requirements.
Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) and Green Technology
Shimadzu SFC systems utilize supercritical carbon dioxide as the primary mobile phase, offering a "green" alternative to traditional liquid chromatography. Technically, the lower viscosity and higher diffusivity of supercritical CO2 allow for flow rates up to five times higher than HPLC without sacrificing resolution. This results in significantly shorter analysis times and a reduction in organic solvent consumption by up to 70\%. The systems include high-precision back-pressure regulators to keep the CO2 in a stable state throughout the separation and detection process.
Integrated Systems for Space-Saving Efficiency
The integrated LC series combines the pump, autosampler, column oven, and detector into a single, compact cabinet. Despite the small footprint, these systems offer the same high-level performance as modular units, including 70 MPa pressure tolerance and a large sample capacity. The integrated design features a built-in touch-screen controller and reservoir tray, making it an ideal technical solution for QC laboratories or environments where bench space is at a premium, without compromising on analytical power.
Remote Monitoring and Cloud Connectivity
Modern Shimadzu LC systems are equipped with IoT capabilities that allow for remote data monitoring and instrument control. Researchers can check the status of a run, view real-time chromatograms, and receive error notifications on their smart devices or PCs via a web browser. This technical integration supports a flexible working environment and allows for rapid troubleshooting by service experts who can access system diagnostic logs remotely, maximizing instrument uptime and laboratory productivity.
Robust Performance for Biomolecule Analysis (Inert Systems)
For the analysis of sensitive biological samples, Shimadzu provides inert UHPLC systems where all wetted surfaces are constructed from non-metal materials like PEEK or high-strength plastics. This technically eliminates the risk of protein adsorption onto metal surfaces and prevents corrosion from high-salt mobile phases often used in ion-exchange or size-exclusion chromatography. These inert systems provide superior reproducibility and data quality for the characterization of antibodies, peptides, and other biopharmaceuticals.
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