Shimadzu QP2010 Plus GC-MS System (Refurbished)

Overview

The Shimadzu QP2010 Plus is a high-performance, refurbished gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system engineered for routine and trace-level organic compound analysis in environmental, pharmaceutical, food safety, and forensic laboratories. It integrates the GC-2010 Plus AF gas chromatograph — featuring Advanced Flow Technology (AFT), rapid oven cooling, and dual-mode (EI/CI) electron ionization — with the QP2010 Plus quadrupole mass spectrometer. Unlike Orbitrap-based platforms, the QP2010 Plus employs a robust, temperature-stabilized quadrupole mass filter delivering unit-mass resolution across a 1–1000 m/z range, optimized for quantitative reproducibility and method transferability. Its design emphasizes operational stability under continuous use, with hardware-level redundancy in vacuum control, ion source temperature regulation, and detector gain calibration. The system operates under controlled electron energy (70 eV standard), with optional low-energy EI and chemical ionization for enhanced molecular ion detection in fragile analytes.

Key Features

• GC-2010 Plus AF platform with AFT-enabled split/splitless injection, backflush capability, and carrier gas saver mode—reducing helium consumption by up to 40% without compromising retention time stability
• QP2010 Plus mass spectrometer with high-efficiency electron multiplier detector, achieving >300:1 signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for octafluoronaphthalene in full-scan mode (1 pg on-column)
• Column oven cooling rate of ≤3.5 minutes (300 °C → 50 °C), enabling rapid cycle times for high-throughput labs performing multi-residue pesticide or VOC analyses
• Dual-mode ion source supporting both electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) with automated switching and independent filament control
• Integrated AOC-20i autosampler with 100-position AOC-20s sample tray, programmable injection volume (0.1–100 µL), and syringe wash station for carryover reduction
• Thermally insulated capillary inlet with pressure-programmable flow control, compatible with 0.1–0.53 mm ID columns and maximum operating temperature of 450 °C

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The QP2010 Plus accommodates volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs, SVOCs), pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, residual solvents, and flavor/aroma volatiles. It supports derivatized polar analytes (e.g., fatty acid methyl esters, silylated steroids) and complies with internationally recognized analytical standards including ASTM D5845 (petroleum hydrocarbon fingerprinting), ISO 17025:2017 (method validation requirements), and USP (chromatography system suitability). Data acquisition and processing meet audit-trail and electronic signature requirements per FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when operated with GCMSsolution v2.7x or later under validated laboratory procedures. Routine operation adheres to GLP and GMP-aligned instrument qualification protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ), with documented calibration verification using perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA) and tune report generation.

Software & Data Management

Controlled by Shimadzu’s GCMSsolution software (v2.7x or higher), the system provides integrated method building, real-time spectral deconvolution (AMDIS-compatible), library search (NIST/EPA/WHO/Wiley), and quantitative workflow automation. Raw data files (.qgd) are stored in vendor-neutral formats compliant with ASTM E1947-17 for long-term archival. Software features include automatic baseline correction, peak integration with customizable threshold logic, batch processing with QC flagging, and export to LIMS via CSV, XML, or direct ODBC connection. Audit trail functionality logs all user actions—including method edits, calibration updates, and report generation—with timestamps and operator IDs. Data integrity safeguards include write-protected raw file storage and tamper-evident digital signatures.

Applications

• Environmental monitoring: EPA Method 8270D (semivolatiles), 8260C (VOCs), and 1613B (PCDD/Fs) screening
• Pharmaceutical impurity profiling and residual solvent quantification per ICH Q3C guidelines
• Food safety testing: Pesticide multiresidue analysis (EU SANTE/11312/2021), mycotoxin confirmation, and packaging migrant identification
• Forensic toxicology: Targeted and untargeted screening of drugs of abuse and metabolites in biological matrices
• Materials science: Outgassing analysis of polymers, adhesives, and electronic components per ASTM E1547

FAQ

Is the QP2010 Plus an Orbitrap-based system?

No. The QP2010 Plus utilizes a temperature-compensated quadrupole mass analyzer—not an Orbitrap. Orbitrap technology was introduced in later Shimadzu platforms (e.g., GCMS-QP2020 NX with optional Orbitrap module); this refurbished unit is a proven quadrupole GC-MS configuration.
What maintenance history is available for this refurbished unit?

Each unit undergoes full functional validation per Shimadzu’s Refurbishment Protocol: vacuum integrity test (<5×10⁻⁶ Pa), mass axis calibration verification, sensitivity/tune report generation, column oven thermal mapping, and autosampler precision assessment (RSD <1.5% for 10 injections). Full service logs and pre-refurbishment diagnostics are provided upon request.
Can this system be upgraded to support GC×GC or API sources?

No. The QP2010 Plus architecture does not support comprehensive two-dimensional GC coupling or atmospheric pressure ionization interfaces. It is designed exclusively for EI/CI-capable capillary GC-MS applications.
Does the system include 21 CFR Part 11 compliance out-of-the-box?

Yes—when deployed with GCMSsolution v2.7x or later and configured with password-protected user roles, electronic signatures, and enabled audit-trail logging. Validation documentation templates and IQ/OQ checklists are included in the delivery package.