UPC² Technology Bridges the Gap Between LC and GC, Gives Laboratories New Options for Tackling Tough Analytical Problems

Waters Corporation (WAT:NYSE) was today awarded the prestigious 2012 Pittcon Editors’ Gold Award for the new Waters® ACQUITY UPC²™ System as the best new product at the 2012 Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy.

Employing the principle of UltraPerformance Convergence Chromatography™ (UPC²), ACQUITY UPC² System expands the boundaries of reverse phase liquid chromatography (LC) and of gas chromatography (GC) separations and offers a replacement option for normal phase chromatography. ACQUITY UPC² provides scientists with an indispensable new tool for tackling tough-to-analyze compounds including hydrophobic and chiral compounds, lipids, thermally-labile samples and polymers across a wide range of applications.

“On behalf of all Waters employees worldwide, we thank the Pittcon Editors for recognizing the new ACQUITY UPC² System and its promise as a new category of separation science,” said Art Caputo, President of the Waters Division. “Since its founding 61 years ago, Pittcon has been one of the most important annual conferences where scientists can learn about the newest developments in laboratory science that can help them speed discovery, uncover new truths, and further the advancement of science. In 2004, the Pittcon Editors selected the ACQUITY UltraPerformance LC® (UPLC®) to receive their gold award for best in show. Since then, thousands of ACQUITY UPLC systems have been adopted by leading laboratories around the world changing the landscape and impact of chromatography. We believe that ACQUITY UltraPerformance Convergence Chromatography holds that same potential by bridging the gap between LC and GC technologies -- apparently leading scientific editors agree.”

Harnessing Compressed CO2 Broadens Separations Options

Compressed carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary mobile phase for ACQUITY UPC², offers numerous major advantages over liquid mobile phases or carrier gases that are used with LC and GC. For one, CO2 alone, or in combination with a co-solvent, is a low viscosity mobile phase that achieves higher diffusion rates and enhanced mass transfer than liquids used in HPLC. For another, when compared to GC, CO2 alone is a mobile phase that allows separations to occur at a much lower temperature. Scientists can routinely separate compounds that are less amenable to analysis by LC and GC including molecules having a wide range of polarities.

Along with industry leading sub two-micron particle column chemistries, ACQUITY UPC² System gives scientists the ability to precisely vary mobile phase strength, pressure, and temperature. With this ability to fine-tune the resolving power and selectivity of the system, scientists can exercise better control over the retention of analytes for separating, detecting and quantifying structural analogs, isomers, and enantiomeric and diasteriomeric mixtures – all compounds that are often difficult to separate by any other means. A key benefit of the ACQUITY UPC² System is the use of inexpensive and non-toxic compressed CO2 as a primary mobile phase that can take the place of toxic and volatile organic solvents that are extremely expensive to purchase and dispose.

The ACQUITY UPC² System is a product of Waters’ extensive history of quality instrument design and development experience and exhibits Waters’ trademark ruggedness, reliability and ease-of-use. Its key features include:

• A 10 µL fixed loop injector for partial loop injections of between 0.5 µL and 10 µL preserves sample and eliminates the need to change sample loops.
• Reduced system volume enables shorter run times, optimizes gradient performance, reduces band broadening, and enables the use of small particle size columns.
• Co-solvent and column switching for more flexible methods development, faster solvent and column screening.
• Gradient accuracy and precision assures retention time reproducibility.
• Improved optical detection and MS compatibility for conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Waters ACQUITY UPC² System is the perfect complement to MS due to its low solvent load, exceptional resolving power, narrow peaks and fast separations. Whether analyzing natural products, traditional medicines, drugs, food additives or contaminants, pesticides, surfactants, polymer additives, lipids, or biofuels, Waters ACQUITY UPC² System delivers unparalleled separations and peak shape. Like all of Waters ACQUITY-based products, ACQUITY UPC² System maximizes the benefits of Waters chemistries like the new ACQUITY UPC² System as well as industry-leading informatics software and expert support.

The ACQUITY UPC² System now takes its place alongside LC and GC as a powerful complementary technique for taking on the laboratory’s toughest separations challenges

For more information visit www.waters.com/upc2

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