Shimadzu LC-2010A HT Integrated High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph (Used, Refurbished)

Overview

The Shimadzu LC-2010A HT is a fully integrated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system engineered for robustness, method transfer fidelity, and long-term operational stability in regulated and non-regulated laboratory environments. Built upon Shimadzu’s proven LC-2010 platform, the HT variant features a compact, monolithic architecture—integrating the quaternary low-pressure gradient pump, autosampler, column oven, UV-Vis photodiode array detector, and system controller into a single chassis. This design eliminates inter-unit tubing variability, minimizes dead volume, and ensures consistent hydraulic performance across instrument installations. The system operates on a dual-piston, micro-stroke reciprocating pump principle with dynamic inlet check valves (patent-pending at time of original release), delivering ultra-low pulsation flow (<0.05% ripple) and exceptional gradient reproducibility—even under high-backpressure conditions typical of sub-2 µm particle columns. Its detection module incorporates a thermostatted flow cell (±0.1 °C stability), built-in mercury lamp for wavelength verification, and real-time baseline compensation algorithms—enabling reliable quantitation down to low ng/mL levels in pharmaceutical assay, environmental residue, and food safety applications.

Key Features

• Integrated monoblock design reduces system footprint and interconnection errors; no external cabling or alignment required between modules.
• Quaternary low-pressure mixing pump with <0.1% flow RSD and <0.2% absolute gradient accuracy across 0–100% B composition range.
• High-speed autosampler with full-loop injection mode: 15-second cycle time for 10 µL injections; precision ≤0.3% RSD (n = 6); supports 350 × 1.5 mL vials or 4 × 96-well plates.
• Peltier-based column oven with dual-zone temperature control (4–80 °C), ±0.1 °C setpoint accuracy, and active thermal shielding to suppress radial temperature gradients.
• UV-Vis detector featuring thermally stabilized flow cell, internal wavelength calibration source (low-pressure Hg lamp), and noise specification of ≤±2.5 × 10⁻⁶ AU (254 nm, 1 s time constant).
• 5-channel membrane degasser with integrated solvent-line deaeration—standard on both mobile phase and wash solvent lines.
• Class VP v7.x software pre-installed on dedicated Windows PC; supports audit trail, electronic signatures, and 21 CFR Part 11-compliant configuration (when deployed with appropriate IT controls).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The LC-2010A HT accommodates standard 3.0–4.6 mm i.d. analytical columns (up to 250 mm length) and semi-micro configurations (2.1 mm i.d.). It is routinely validated for use in accordance with USP , EP 2.2.46, and ISO 17025 requirements for chromatographic method validation. While the base system does not include column cooling capability (unlike the LC-2010CHT variant), its oven’s rapid thermal equilibration and uniformity support retention time stability critical for GLP-compliant stability-indicating assays. All refurbished units undergo full functional verification per Shimadzu’s Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) protocol—including pressure leak testing, gradient linearity verification, detector linearity and noise assessment, and autosampler carryover evaluation (<0.01% for caffeine at 100 µg/mL). Documentation includes Certificate of Operational Verification and traceable calibration records.

Software & Data Management

Shimadzu Class VP v7.x provides intuitive, wizard-driven method development, sequence setup, and data review. The software architecture supports multi-user role-based access control, full electronic audit trail (with timestamped operator actions), and export of raw data in .spc and .csv formats compliant with LIMS integration. When deployed in GxP environments, the system can be configured to meet FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements—including electronic signature enforcement, secure user authentication, and immutable record retention—provided network infrastructure and administrative policies are aligned with Annex 11 and ALCOA+ principles. Raw chromatograms, integration reports, and system suitability logs are stored with embedded metadata (instrument ID, method name, analyst ID, acquisition timestamp), enabling full traceability from sample to report.

Applications

This refurbished LC-2010A HT is routinely deployed in quality control laboratories for assay of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), dissolution testing, impurity profiling per ICH Q3B(R2), residual solvent analysis (USP ), and peptide mapping. Its reliability and gradient fidelity also support environmental monitoring (EPA Method 8330B for PAHs), food contaminant screening (mycotoxins, pesticides), and academic research requiring high inter-day repeatability in natural product isolation or polymer characterization. The absence of a column cooler does not limit applicability to ambient- or elevated-temperature methods; it remains optimal for reversed-phase C18 separations, ion-pairing, and HILIC where precise thermal control—not sub-ambient cooling—is the primary requirement.

FAQ

Is this instrument supplied with original Shimadzu documentation and software licenses?
Yes—each unit includes a complete set of English-language operation manuals, maintenance guides, and a valid Class VP v7.x license tied to the included PC. No third-party dongles or activation workarounds are used.
What refurbishment process is performed prior to shipment?
All instruments undergo full mechanical inspection, pump seal replacement, detector lamp replacement (if >70% of rated life consumed), autosampler needle and seal servicing, firmware update to latest stable revision, and comprehensive performance verification against Shimadzu’s published specifications.
Can this system be upgraded to include a column cooler or additional detectors?
The LC-2010A HT chassis does not support field installation of the optional column cooler module (required for LC-2010CHT configuration); however, external Peltier-based column chillers (e.g., Thermo Scientific CryoCooler) may be integrated via auxiliary temperature control ports.
Does the 6-month warranty cover parts, labor, and on-site service?
The warranty covers all components and labor for defects in materials or workmanship. Remote diagnostics and phone/email technical support are provided globally; on-site service is available in North America, EU, and APAC regions under separate service agreement terms.
Is method transfer from other Shimadzu LC systems straightforward?
Yes—the LC-2010A HT maintains identical fluidic geometry, dwell volume (~0.8 mL), and timing logic as other LC-2010-series instruments, enabling direct migration of Class VP methods without re-optimization in most cases.