Agilent 1200 Series HPLC System (Refurbished)

Overview

The Agilent 1200 Series HPLC System is a robust, modular high-performance liquid chromatography platform engineered for precision, reproducibility, and long-term operational stability in regulated and research laboratory environments. Based on dual-piston reciprocating pump technology with active solvent compressibility compensation, the system delivers exceptional flow accuracy (<0.1% RSD) and gradient composition fidelity across its full 0.001–10.00 mL/min range. Its 40 MPa maximum pressure rating supports both conventional 5 µm particle-packed columns and early-generation sub-2 µm UHPLC-compatible columns, enabling method transfer flexibility without hardware replacement. The system architecture complies with fundamental design principles outlined in ISO/IEC 17025 and ASTM E2686 for analytical instrument qualification, making it suitable for method validation workflows in pharmaceutical QC, environmental monitoring, and food safety laboratories.

Key Features

• Quaternary or binary high-pressure gradient pumping system with integrated degasser and low-dispersion flow cell
• Autosampler with 100-position vial capacity, precise syringe-driven injection mechanism, and programmable needle wash protocol to minimize carryover (<0.005% typical)
• Thermostatically controlled column compartment maintaining ±0.5 °C stability across 10–60 °C, critical for retention time reproducibility in isocratic and gradient separations
• Variable-wavelength UV-Vis detector featuring a high-intensity deuterium/tungsten lamp, holographic grating monochromator, and 100 Hz data acquisition rate—enabling high-resolution peak tracking for fast eluting compounds
• Modular design supporting optional integration of fluorescence, refractive index, or mass spectrometric detectors via standard analog/digital I/O interfaces
• Pre-qualified refurbished units undergo full functional verification per Agilent’s original factory test specifications, including pressure leak testing, flow accuracy calibration, wavelength accuracy validation (using holmium oxide reference), and baseline noise assessment (≤ ±0.5 × 10⁻⁵ AU at 254 nm)

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Agilent 1200 accommodates a broad spectrum of sample matrices—including aqueous extracts, organic solvent dilutions, biological fluids (after appropriate protein precipitation or filtration), and purified small-molecule standards—without modification to core fluidic pathways. All wetted components are constructed from chemically resistant stainless steel, PEEK, or sapphire, ensuring compatibility with mobile phases containing up to 100% acetonitrile, methanol, or buffer concentrations up to 0.1 M phosphate or acetate. The system meets essential requirements for GLP and GMP environments: audit trail capability (when paired with compliant CDS software), electronic signature support, and configurable user access levels. While the base hardware does not inherently satisfy FDA 21 CFR Part 11, it is fully compatible with validated chromatography data systems (e.g., OpenLab CDS, Chromeleon) that implement required security controls, electronic records integrity checks, and long-term data archiving protocols aligned with ISO 13485 and ICH Q2(R2).

Software & Data Management

Operation is managed through Agilent’s OpenLab CDS (ChemStation Edition or modern OpenLab ECM), which provides comprehensive method development tools, sequence scheduling, real-time chromatogram visualization, and automated peak integration using iterative Gaussian deconvolution algorithms. Raw data files (.D format) are stored in vendor-neutral, timestamped directories with embedded metadata (instrument parameters, operator ID, calibration history). The system supports LIMS integration via ASTM E1384-compliant ASCII export or direct ODBC connectivity. All refurbished units ship with licensed software media, installation documentation, and a certificate of refurbishment detailing component-level replacements, firmware revision status, and post-refurbishment performance verification results.

Applications

This platform is routinely deployed in pharmaceutical quality control for assay quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) per USP , impurity profiling under ICH Q3B guidelines, and dissolution testing per USP . In environmental laboratories, it enables EPA Method 8330B (PAHs), 8082A (PCBs), and 548 (pharmaceuticals in wastewater) analyses. Food safety applications include mycotoxin screening (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A), pesticide residue analysis (e.g., EU SANTE/11312/2021 multi-residue methods), and vitamin quantification (e.g., AOAC 2005.03). Academic and contract research organizations utilize the system for natural product isolation monitoring, polymer additive characterization, and kinetic studies requiring precise retention time alignment across extended run sequences.

FAQ

Is this unit covered by an original Agilent warranty?
No. Refurbished Agilent 1200 systems are supplied with a 12-month limited hardware warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, administered directly by the authorized refurbishment partner.
Can I upgrade to a diode array detector (DAD) later?
Yes—the system’s optical bench and data acquisition architecture support field installation of the Agilent G1315D DAD module, provided the controller firmware is updated to revision A.09.03 or later.
What documentation accompanies the instrument?
Each unit includes a Certificate of Refurbishment, full service history log, calibration report traceable to NIST standards, and digital copies of the Agilent 1200 Series Operation Manual (G1312-90000) and Maintenance Guide (G1312-90010).
Does the autosampler support 2 mL vials?
Standard configuration supports 1.5 mL and 2 mL screw-thread vials; 2 mL compatibility requires optional vial tray adapter kit (p/n G1329-68705).
Is remote monitoring possible?
Yes—via Ethernet-connected OpenLab CDS with configured firewall rules and secure VPN access, enabling real-time status viewing, sequence initiation, and alarm notification through the CDS web interface.