Waters ACQUITY Arc Liquid Chromatography System (Refurbished)

Overview

The Waters ACQUITY Arc Liquid Chromatography System is a purpose-engineered, refurbished high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) platform designed to bridge the operational and performance gap between conventional HPLC and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Built on Waters’ proven Arc Multi-Flow Path architecture, it enables seamless method translation and execution across both HPLC and UHPLC conditions—without hardware reconfiguration or gradient table recalibration. The system operates on classical low-pressure quaternary solvent blending principles, delivering robust isocratic and gradient separations with precise dwell volume management, making it ideal for laboratories maintaining legacy validated methods while requiring enhanced throughput, reproducibility, and regulatory compliance. Its modular design integrates seamlessly into existing Empower-based workflows and supports full GxP-aligned operation under GLP, GMP, and ISO/IEC 17025 frameworks.

Key Features

• Arc Multi-Flow Path Technology: Dual-path fluidic architecture (Path 1 for HPLC; Path 2 for UHPLC-compatible operation) enables instantaneous switching between pressure and flow regimes—preserving method integrity without altering gradient tables or column backpressure profiles.
• Quaternary Solvent Manager (QSM-R): Delivers precise, low-pulsation gradient formation using four independent solvent channels; optionally expandable to nine solvents via integrated solvent selection valve for complex method development and multi-method scheduling.
• Sample Manager – FTN-R (Full-Loop, Needle-in-Needle): Features active needle wash during injection cycle, achieving <0.002% carryover—critical for trace-level quantitation and high-throughput QC environments.
• Column Heater/Cooler Integration: Maintains thermal stability from 5 °C to 90 °C with ±0.2 °C accuracy; optional pre-heater ensures consistent mobile phase temperature entering the column, minimizing retention time drift across labs and instruments.
• Auto●Blend Plus Technology: Dynamically adjusts solvent composition in real time to achieve target pH or ionic strength increments—eliminating manual buffer preparation and reducing inter-operator variability in ion-pairing or pH-gradient methods.
• Empower & MassLynx Software Compatibility: Fully interoperable with Waters Empower 3 (CDS) for data acquisition, processing, and audit-trail-enabled reporting; supports direct coupling to ACQUITY QDa Mass Detector via MassLynx for orthogonal confirmation without workflow disruption.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The ACQUITY Arc accommodates standard 3.9–4.6 mm ID analytical columns packed with 2.0–5.0 µm particles—including legacy 5 µm silica-based phases—as well as modern sub-2 µm UHPLC columns when operated in Path 2 mode. It meets mechanical and electronic requirements for USP Analytical Instrument Qualification (AIQ), supporting IQ/OQ/PQ documentation packages. System suitability testing, calibration verification, and electronic signature functionality comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when deployed with Empower’s security configuration. All refurbished units undergo full functional validation per Waters’ SQT (System Qualification Toolkit) protocols and are certified to meet original equipment specifications for flow accuracy (±0.2%), gradient precision (RSD <0.2%), and retention time repeatability (RSD <0.15%).

Software & Data Management

Data acquisition, processing, and reporting are managed through Waters Empower 3 CDS (Chromatography Data System), configured for role-based access control, electronic signatures, and full audit trail logging—including parameter changes, sequence edits, and result overrides. Raw data files (.emp, .raw) are stored in secure, timestamped repositories with automatic backup integration. For mass spectrometry extension, MassLynx 4.2+ provides synchronized LC-MS acquisition, centroiding, and peak integration—exporting results directly into Empower for unified review. All software installations include licensed activation keys and are verified for version compatibility with the instrument’s firmware revision.

Applications

The ACQUITY Arc is routinely deployed in pharmaceutical quality control (QC) for assay, dissolution, and impurity profiling per ICH Q2(R2); in contract research organizations (CROs) for method transfer and stability-indicating assays; and in academic and government labs conducting environmental analysis (e.g., pesticide residue screening), food safety testing (mycotoxins, additives), and natural product fingerprinting. Its method-retention capability makes it especially valuable for long-term stability studies where historical HPLC methods must be reproduced identically over decades—even as new instrumentation platforms evolve.

FAQ

Is this unit fully refurbished and tested prior to shipment?
Yes. Each ACQUITY Arc system undergoes comprehensive electrical, fluidic, and optical validation at SpectraLab Scientific’s ISO 9001-certified refurbishment facility, including PDA wavelength accuracy verification, pump flow linearity assessment, and autosampler precision testing.
What documentation is included with the system?
A complete set of refurbished instrument qualification records (IQ/OQ summary), Empower installation qualification report, and a 6-month parts-and-labor warranty certificate are provided digitally and in hard copy.
Can this system be integrated into an existing Empower network?
Yes. The ACQUITY Arc ships with factory-default network settings compatible with Empower 3 SP2 or later; IT deployment support includes VLAN configuration guidance and firewall port mapping recommendations.
Does the warranty cover software updates or reinstallation?
The 6-month warranty includes remote technical support for Empower configuration issues and on-site assistance for critical hardware faults; software license reactivation and minor patch updates are covered, but major version upgrades require separate Waters maintenance agreement.
Are original accessories and consumables included?
All core modules (2998 PDA, SM-FTN-R, QSM-R, Column Heater/Cooler) are included with original serial-matched cables, power supplies, and user manuals; spare fuses, seal kits, and system suitability test standards are provided as part of the standard refurbishment package.