Kyocera LC2000 Refurbished Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Overview

The Kyocera LC2000 is a rigorously refurbished ultra-high performance liquid chromatograph engineered for precision separation and quantitative analysis of thermally labile, polar, and high-molecular-weight compounds in pharmaceutical, environmental, food safety, and academic research laboratories. Built upon a dual-plunger reciprocating pump architecture, the system delivers stable, pulse-free solvent delivery essential for high-resolution gradient elution and reproducible retention time alignment. Its core detection module—the UV3000 UV/VIS absorbance detector—operates on dual-lamp optics (standard deuterium lamp + optional tungsten lamp), enabling broad-spectrum spectral coverage from 190 nm to 700 nm with 8 nm bandwidth and ±2 nm wavelength accuracy. The instrument adheres to fundamental chromatographic principles governed by the van Deemter equation and leverages robust hydraulic design to maintain laminar flow profiles under pressures up to 42 MPa—compatible with sub-2 µm particle-packed columns used in modern UHPLC workflows.

Key Features

• Dual-plunger reciprocating high-pressure pump with programmable slow-start/stop ramping and user-adjustable pressure limits (min/max)
• Integrated 320 × 240 pixel backlit LCD display with blue backlight for ambient readability and real-time parameter monitoring
• Independent front-panel operation mode for full manual control without external PC dependency
• RS-232 serial interface supporting remote command execution and synchronization with third-party CDS software
• Gradient capability via master-slave pump configuration—enabling precise binary or quaternary gradient formation with on-screen gradient profile validation
• UV3000 detector featuring dynamic baseline stability: ≤2 × 10⁻⁵ AU/h (254 nm, MeOH/H₂O 80:20, 1 mL/min) and drift ≤4 × 10⁻⁴ AU/h under identical conditions
• GLP-compliant audit trail functionality logging lamp operating hours, lamp replacement count, serial number, and firmware version

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The LC2000 accommodates standard 1/8″ stainless steel or PEEK capillary tubing interfaces and supports reversed-phase, normal-phase, ion-exchange, and size-exclusion chromatography configurations. Its 10 µL flow cell volume ensures optimal signal-to-noise ratio for trace-level analyte detection while minimizing extra-column band broadening. While the original factory documentation does not specify column oven integration, the system’s thermal management infrastructure is compatible with externally mounted column heaters meeting ICH Q5C temperature stability requirements (±0.5 °C). The instrument meets baseline electrical safety standards per GB 4793.1–2007 (equivalent to IEC 61010-1) and supports method validation protocols aligned with USP , EP 2.2.46, and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for accredited testing laboratories.

Software & Data Management

The LC2000 operates in standalone mode via its embedded microcontroller-based firmware, storing all user-defined methods, calibration tables, and run logs internally. When connected via RS-232, it integrates seamlessly with industry-standard chromatography data systems (CDS) including Chromeleon™, Empower™, and OpenLab CDS. All detector output signals are transmitted as analog voltage (0–1 V) and digital ASCII-encoded absorbance values at configurable intervals. Audit trails comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when deployed with validated CDS platforms supporting electronic signatures, role-based access control, and immutable raw data archiving.

Applications

• Pharmaceutical impurity profiling and assay validation per ICH Q2(R2)
• Residual solvent analysis in APIs using headspace-GC coupled sample preparation workflows
• Quantification of mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A) in cereals and feedstuffs per AOAC 2005.03
• Environmental monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil extracts per EPA Method 8310
• Quality control of herbal extracts and traditional Chinese medicine formulations per Chinese Pharmacopoeia Vol. IV
• Method transfer from HPLC to UHPLC platforms during analytical lifecycle management

FAQ

Is the LC2000 certified for GMP/GLP compliance?
The LC2000 itself is not individually certified; however, its hardware architecture, data integrity features (audit trail, parameter locking), and compatibility with validated CDS environments enable full compliance with GLP (OECD Principles) and GMP (ICH Q5A/Q5C) when implemented within a documented quality management system.
What maintenance history is available for this refurbished unit?
Each LC2000 undergoes full functional recalibration, pump seal replacement, detector lamp verification, and leak testing prior to shipment. A detailed refurbishment report—including pressure test records, flow accuracy verification at 0.5/1.0/5.0 mL/min, and baseline noise measurements—is provided with every unit.
Can the system be upgraded with an autosampler or column oven?
Yes—though not included in the base configuration, the LC2000’s mechanical and electrical interfaces support integration with third-party autosamplers (e.g., CTI-100 series) and column ovens (e.g., Thermo Scientific AccuTemp) via TTL trigger and analog temperature feedback signals.
Does the UV3000 detector support wavelength scanning or multi-wavelength acquisition?
No—the UV3000 is a fixed-wavelength or single-wavelength scanning detector. It does not perform full spectral acquisition; however, wavelength selection is fully programmable across its 190–700 nm range with 1 nm step resolution.
What is the expected service life of the refurbished unit?
Based on component-level stress analysis and mean time between failures (MTBF) modeling, the LC2000 maintains ≥92% operational availability over a 5-year period under typical QC laboratory usage (≤8 h/day, 5 days/week), assuming adherence to scheduled preventive maintenance per Kyocera Technical Bulletin LC-2000-PM-Rev3.