Waters LC-2695 Pre-Owned High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Overview

The Waters LC-2695 is a robust, modular high-performance liquid chromatograph originally engineered for method development, routine QC/QA, and regulatory-compliant analysis in pharmaceutical, environmental, and food safety laboratories. As a legacy HPLC platform—distinct from ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) systems—the LC-2695 employs dual-piston reciprocating pumps with pulse-dampening technology, a low-dead-volume flow cell, and precise gradient delivery to deliver reproducible retention times and peak shapes across diverse sample matrices. Its architecture supports isocratic and binary gradient elution, making it suitable for reversed-phase, normal-phase, ion-exchange, and size-exclusion separations. Though not designed for sub-2-µm particle columns or >1000 bar operation, the LC-2695 remains widely deployed in GLP environments where method transferability, long-term system stability, and compliance traceability are prioritized over ultimate speed or resolution.

Key Features

• Modular design enabling flexible configuration: pump module, autosampler, column oven, and UV/Vis detector can be independently serviced or upgraded.
• Dual-plunger reciprocating pump with active solvent compressibility compensation, delivering flow accuracy ±0.2% RSD and gradient precision <0.5% RSD over 0.1–10 mL/min.
• Refrigerated autosampler with 100-position vial capacity and programmable injection volumes from 0.1 to 100 µL (typical range ~1–50 µL), minimizing carryover via needle wash and seal flush protocols.
• Column compartment with thermoelectric temperature control (ambient +10 °C to 60 °C, ±0.5 °C stability), supporting method robustness under variable ambient conditions.
• UV/Vis photodiode array (PDA) or tunable absorbance detector (e.g., 2487, 2489) with wavelength scanning capability (190–700 nm), 1-nm resolution, and real-time spectral acquisition at up to 100 Hz.
• Integrated pressure monitoring with automatic shutdown at user-defined thresholds (up to 40 MPa), protecting columns and system integrity.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The LC-2695 accommodates standard 3.9–4.6 mm ID analytical columns (typically 50–250 mm length) packed with C18, C8, phenyl-hexyl, or HILIC phases. It is routinely validated for use with aqueous-organic mobile phases (e.g., water/acetonitrile, water/methanol), buffers (e.g., phosphate, acetate, ammonium formate), and volatile additives compatible with downstream MS coupling. The system meets foundational requirements for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance when paired with Waters Empower™ 2 or 3 Software configured with electronic signatures, audit trail logging, and user access controls. It is commonly employed in methods aligned with USP , EP 2.2.46, and ASTM D7097 for residual solvent analysis, impurity profiling, and assay quantitation.

Software & Data Management

Operation and data processing rely on Waters Empower Chromatography Data System (CDS), version 2 or 3. Empower provides full instrument control, sequence definition, real-time chromatogram display, peak integration using customizable algorithms (e.g., valley-to-valley, perpendicular drop), calibration curve generation (linear, quadratic, weighted), and report templating. Audit trails record all user actions—including method edits, reprocessing events, and result approvals—with immutable timestamps. Raw data (.raw files) and processed results are stored in a relational database with role-based permissions, facilitating review workflows and inspection readiness. Data export options include CSV, PDF, and XML formats compliant with LIMS integration standards.

Applications

• Pharmaceutical QC: Assay of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), related substances testing, dissolution profile analysis, and stability-indicating method validation per ICH Q2(R2).
• Environmental analysis: Quantification of pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, and endocrine disruptors in water, soil, and biota extracts using EPA Methods 8081B, 8270D, and 625.1.
• Food safety: Detection of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A), preservatives (sorbic acid, benzoic acid), and synthetic dyes in beverages, dairy, and cereals per AOAC and EU Commission Regulation No. 1881/2006.
• Academic and contract research: Method scouting, column screening, and preparative-scale fraction collection support via optional fraction collector interface.

FAQ

Is the LC-2695 compatible with modern data systems and LIMS?
Yes—when operated with Empower 3 CDS, it supports ODBC connectivity, HL7 messaging, and direct LIMS integration via Waters’ OpenAccess or third-party middleware.
Can this system be qualified for GMP use?
Yes—full IQ/OQ/PQ documentation packages are available; qualification follows ASTM E2500 and ISPE GAMP 5 principles, including performance verification across flow, pressure, temperature, and detector linearity.
What maintenance is recommended prior to deployment?
Recommended pre-deployment services include pump seal replacement, detector lamp calibration, autosampler rotor seal inspection, and full system leak test with baseline noise and drift assessment.
Does the LC-2695 support post-column derivatization or mass spectrometry coupling?
Yes—its low-flow dispersion design and standard 1/16″ stainless-steel tubing interfaces enable reliable coupling to electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources on single-quadrupole or triple-quadrupole MS platforms.
What warranty and technical support options are available for pre-owned units?
Certified pre-owned LC-2695 systems typically include a 12-month parts-and-labor warranty, remote diagnostics, and access to Waters-certified field service engineers for on-site support and preventive maintenance contracts.