Millipore Elix A5 Benchtop Laboratory Pure Water System

Overview

The Millipore Elix A5 Benchtop Laboratory Pure Water System is an engineered solution for laboratories requiring consistent, reliable production of ASTM Type II (ISO 3696 Grade 2) pure water directly from municipal tap feed. Designed for space-constrained environments and moderate daily demand (up to 120 L/day), the Elix A5 integrates a high-rejection reverse osmosis (RO) pre-treatment stage with Millipore’s proprietary Elix electro-deionization (EDI) technology — a continuous, chemical-free ion removal process that eliminates the need for acid/base regeneration or frequent DI resin replacement. Unlike conventional distillation or single-stage RO/DI systems, the Elix A5 delivers stable resistivity performance (5–15 MΩ·cm at 25 °C), ultra-low TOC (<50 ppb), and microbiological control (<1 CFU/mL when equipped with the Millipak® 0.22 µm final filter), meeting critical requirements for routine analytical applications including spectrophotometry, HPLC mobile phase preparation, buffer formulation, and general cell culture support.

Key Features

• Patented Elix EDI module: Continuous electrochemical regeneration of mixed-bed ion exchange resins using low-current DC power — no chemical regenerants, no resin exhaustion cycles, and no risk of CaCO₃ scaling due to integrated activated carbon buffering in the cathode chamber.
• Integrated 8.7 L stainless-steel reservoir with continuous recirculation loop and built-in ultraviolet irradiation (254 nm) to suppress microbial growth during storage.
• Real-time dual-parameter monitoring: Simultaneous display of RO permeate conductivity and Elix product water resistivity on a high-contrast LCD interface, with automatic temperature compensation (±0.1 °C sensor resolution) and configurable alarm thresholds.
• High-precision resistivity measurement: Custom-designed 0.01 cm⁻¹ cell constant electrode calibrated per IEC 60746-3, supporting both temperature-compensated (25 °C) and raw uncorrected readings.
• Low-voltage 24 V DC architecture: Certified for safe operation in wet-lab environments; eliminates risks associated with mains-powered distillation units.
• Modular consumables design: Single-cartridge Elix module replacement completed in under 30 seconds; no tools required. No separate prefilter housings or multi-stage DI columns to manage.
• Leak detection system: Integrated moisture sensor triggers audible/visual alerts and automatically shuts down feed water upon detection of cabinet-level leakage.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Elix A5 is validated for compatibility with standard laboratory feed water meeting EN 12902, ASTM D1193, and local municipal drinking water regulations. Its output meets or exceeds specifications defined in USP , EP 2.2.43, and JP XVII for purified water intended for pharmaceutical manufacturing support, reagent preparation, and QC testing. When fitted with the Millipak® 0.22 µm sterilizing-grade filter, the system satisfies microbial limits required by CLSI EP28-A3b for clinical laboratory use. All electrical components comply with IEC 61010-1 safety standards; the entire system is CE-marked and conforms to RoHS directives. The Elix A5 supports GLP/GMP traceability through its embedded event log (power cycles, alarms, filter change timestamps) — though full 21 CFR Part 11 compliance requires integration with third-party LIMS or electronic lab notebook platforms.

Software & Data Management

The Elix A5 operates without external software dependencies. Its onboard firmware maintains a non-volatile event history covering operational uptime, alarm occurrences (e.g., low pressure, high TOC, reservoir overflow), and consumable usage metrics. All parameters are displayed locally via a user-accessible menu interface with password-protected configuration access. While the system does not feature Ethernet/Wi-Fi connectivity or cloud-based telemetry, its analog outputs (0–5 VDC) allow integration into centralized building management systems (BMS) for remote status monitoring. For audit-ready documentation, users may manually export timestamped screen captures or log entries via USB flash drive (optional accessory). Calibration data for the resistivity sensor is stored internally and accessible for internal QA review.

Applications

• Routine analytical chemistry: Preparation of calibration standards, blank solutions, and diluents for UV-Vis, AAS, and ICP-OES.
• Chromatography support: Mobile phase make-up for HPLC and GC, column washing, and instrument rinsing where Type II water is specified.
• Life science workflows: Media and buffer preparation for mammalian cell culture (non-critical applications), ELISA plate washing, and electrophoresis running buffers.
• Environmental and quality control labs: BOD/COD analysis, pH meter calibration, titrant preparation, and sample digestion matrix dilution.
• Feed water pretreatment: Primary purification source for upstream Milli-Q® ultrapure water systems requiring low-silica, low-ionic-load influent.
• Education and teaching labs: Reliable, low-maintenance water source for undergraduate chemistry and biology laboratories with limited technical staffing.

FAQ

What feed water quality is required for optimal Elix A5 performance?
Municipal tap water with conductivity ≤2000 µS/cm (25 °C), free chlorine ≤1.5 ppm, pH 4–10, and total hardness <300 ppm as CaCO₃ is recommended. Preinstalled carbon and sediment filters are included but do not replace site-specific pretreatment if feed contains high iron, manganese, or organic load.
Can the Elix A5 produce water suitable for HPLC applications?
Yes — when paired with the optional Millipak® 0.22 µm terminal filter and operated within specification (TOC 10 MΩ·cm), the Elix A5 meets ASTM D1193 Type II requirements commonly accepted for HPLC mobile phase preparation and instrument maintenance.
How often must the Elix module be replaced?
Under typical municipal feed conditions and average daily usage (≤60 L), the Elix A5 module achieves 12–18 months of service life before replacement. The system displays a maintenance countdown timer and alerts users 7 days prior to scheduled change.
Is the Elix A5 compatible with existing lab infrastructure?
Yes — it connects directly to standard 3/8″ compression fittings and operates on standard 100–240 VAC input (internally converted to 24 VDC). No dedicated exhaust or drainage is required beyond standard sink connection for overflow discharge.
Does the system include validation documentation?
Factory-installed IQ/OQ protocols are available upon request (document number: Elix-A5-IQOQ-EN). Performance qualification (PQ) templates aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 and GxP expectations are provided in the user manual for site-specific execution.