Shimadzu UV-2401 Dual-Beam Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer (Refurbished)

Overview

The Shimadzu UV-2401 is a high-performance, dual-beam ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer originally engineered for precision quantitative and qualitative analysis across pharmaceutical, biochemical, environmental, and materials science laboratories. Its optical architecture employs a single monochromator system with a holographic grating and a Czerny-Turner mounting configuration—designed to deliver excellent wavelength linearity, photometric stability, and spectral fidelity. The instrument operates on the principle of Beer-Lambert law-based absorbance measurement, using a feedback-controlled dual-beam optical path to compensate for source drift and detector variability in real time. Though classified as a refurbished unit, each UV-2401 undergoes full functional recalibration—including wavelength accuracy verification against NIST-traceable standards (e.g., NIST SRM 930D), photometric validation, baseline flatness assessment, and stray light characterization—prior to deployment. Its 190–1100 nm spectral coverage supports both deep-UV applications (e.g., nucleic acid quantification at 260 nm) and near-IR transitions (e.g., transition metal complexes, organic chromophores), while the 2 nm spectral bandwidth ensures adequate resolution for most routine analytical workflows without compromising signal-to-noise ratio.

Key Features

• Dual-beam optical design with negative-feedback direct-ratio photometry, minimizing baseline drift and enhancing long-term measurement reproducibility.
• Motorized, fully automated wavelength scanning and positioning—enabling programmable spectral acquisition from 190 nm to 1100 nm in 0.1 nm increments.
• Holographic grating monochromator with aberration-corrected Czerny-Turner optics, delivering high throughput and consistent spectral shape across the UV-Vis range.
• Photodiode array detector optimized for broad dynamic range and low-noise response, supporting rapid data acquisition and high scan-speed operation (up to 3200 nm/min for wavelength stepping).
• Integrated automatic wavelength calibration and baseline correction routines—executed at power-on and user-initiated, with stored reference baselines for reapplication.
• Robust mechanical construction: 36 kg cast-aluminum chassis with vibration-damped optical bench, ensuring operational stability under standard laboratory conditions (15–35 °C, 45–80% RH).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The UV-2401 accommodates standard 10 mm pathlength cuvettes (quartz, glass, or plastic), with sample compartment dimensions of 150 × 260 × 120 mm and a fixed 100 mm beam separation. Optional accessories—including 8-position and 16-position multicell changers (with 50 µL or 100 µL volume configurations) and thermostatted cell holders—extend its utility for high-throughput screening and temperature-dependent studies. While the base configuration does not include GLP/GMP-compliant audit trail functionality, the instrument’s hardware-level traceability (NIST-matched wavelength and photometric calibration), documented recalibration certificates, and deterministic response behavior align with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements for testing laboratories. When operated with validated UV-Probe software (v3.x or later), it supports data export in ASTM E131-compliant spectral format (.spc), facilitating integration into LIMS environments compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when paired with appropriate electronic signature and audit trail infrastructure.

Software & Data Management

The UV-2401 was originally designed to operate with Shimadzu’s UV-Probe software suite—a Windows NT–compatible application that introduced multi-tasking capability, customizable report generation, and real-time spectral overlay functions. Refurbished units are delivered with verified installation media and license keys for UV-Probe v3.2 or later, enabling full spectral acquisition, kinetic time-course analysis, quantitative calibration curve construction (linear, quadratic, or cubic), and derivative spectroscopy. Raw spectral data are stored in native .spc format and can be exported to CSV, ASCII, or JCAMP-DX for third-party processing. All software modules undergo compatibility verification with modern Windows OS versions (10/11) via virtualized runtime environments where native execution is unsupported. No cloud connectivity or remote access features are included—consistent with ISO 27001-aligned instrument security practices for regulated laboratories.

Applications

• Quantitative determination of nucleic acids (A260/A280 ratios), proteins (Lowry/BCA assays), and enzyme kinetics in life science research.
• Quality control of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients per USP and EP 2.2.25 guidelines.
• Colorimetric analysis of transition metal ions (e.g., Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺) and organic dyes in environmental water testing (EPA Method 365.3, APHA 3111B).
• Optical characterization of thin-film coatings, semiconductor materials, and UV-blocking additives in polymer science.
• Stability-indicating assay development for photolysis and thermal degradation studies under ICH Q1B guidance.
• Educational use in undergraduate analytical chemistry laboratories for method validation exercises and Beer’s law demonstrations.

FAQ

Is this unit covered by Shimadzu factory warranty?
No. As a refurbished instrument, it carries a 12-month limited hardware warranty administered by the authorized refurbishment partner—not Shimadzu Corporation.
Can the UV-2401 be upgraded to support GLP-compliant audit trails?
Not natively. Audit trail functionality requires UV-Probe v4.0+ and dedicated server-side validation packages, which are not available for legacy UV-2401 hardware. For regulated environments, we recommend documenting all instrument use via external logbooks and metadata tagging in exported data files.
What calibration standards are used during refurbishment?
Wavelength accuracy is verified using NIST SRM 2034 (Holmium Oxide) and SRM 930D (neutral density filters); photometric accuracy is confirmed with certified quartz cuvettes containing potassium dichromate in 0.005 M H₂SO₄ (NIST SRM 935a).
Does the unit include a deuterium and tungsten/halogen lamp set?
Yes. Each refurbished UV-2401 ships with a new 50 W halogen lamp and a tested deuterium lamp, both installed and aligned prior to shipment.
Is the 8/16-cell auto-sampler included in the base configuration?
No. Multicell changers, thermostatted holders, and specialized cuvettes are optional accessories—quoted separately based on configuration requirements.