Shimadzu Refurbished LC-2010 High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Overview

The Shimadzu Refurbished LC-2010 is a fully integrated, high-reliability high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system engineered for precision, reproducibility, and method robustness in regulated and research laboratory environments. Based on Shimadzu’s proven LC-2010 platform, this refurbished instrument retains the original architecture designed around low-pressure quaternary gradient mixing, dual-plunger micro-stroke pump technology, and modular thermal control—ensuring consistent retention time stability and minimal baseline drift across extended operation. Its measurement principle relies on reversed-phase, normal-phase, ion-exchange, or size-exclusion chromatographic separation coupled with UV-Vis absorbance detection (190–700 nm), enabling quantitative and qualitative analysis of small molecules, peptides, nucleotides, and polar/nonpolar analytes across diverse matrices. The system operates under ISO/IEC 17025-aligned workflows and supports method transfer from legacy Shimadzu systems with minimal revalidation effort.

Key Features

• Quaternary low-pressure gradient unit with integrated degasser for precise solvent blending and bubble-free delivery
• Dual-plunger reciprocating pump delivering flow accuracy ±0.1% RSD and pulseless output across 0.001–10.000 mL/min
• Autosampler with 100-position tray capacity, 15-second injection cycle (10 µL), and support for 1.5-mL vials and up to four 96-well microplates
• Column oven with Peltier-based module heating, maintaining temperature uniformity ±0.1 °C over 10–60 °C range
• UV-Vis detector featuring noise level ≤±2.5 × 10⁻⁵ AU (254 nm, 1 s response), linearity up to 2.5 AU, and 100 Hz data acquisition rate
• Integrated system controller with graphical user interface (GUI), “Magic Module” function for drag-and-drop method building, and automated startup/shutdown sequences
• Standardized stainless-steel fluidic path with minimized dead volume (<10 µL) to reduce carryover and improve peak shape fidelity

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The LC-2010 accommodates a broad spectrum of sample types—including aqueous extracts, organic solvent-solubilized compounds, biological fluids (serum, urine, CSF), environmental water/soil digests, food homogenates, and pharmaceutical formulations—without requiring hardware modification. It complies with key regulatory frameworks applicable to analytical instrumentation: ASTM D7097 (chromatographic system suitability), ISO 17025:2017 (method validation requirements), USP (chromatography), and ICH Q2(R2) guidelines. While the refurbished unit does not include factory-installed 21 CFR Part 11 compliance modules, its software architecture supports audit trail configuration, electronic signature integration, and secure user access control when deployed with validated third-party LIMS or CDS platforms meeting GLP/GMP documentation standards.

Software & Data Management

Operation is managed via Shimadzu’s Class VP or LabSolutions LC software (version-dependent on refurbishment date), offering intuitive workflow navigation, real-time chromatogram display, peak integration with customizable algorithms (tangent skim, valley-to-valley, exponential curve fit), and report generation compliant with internal QA templates. Raw data are stored in proprietary .lcd format with embedded metadata (instrument parameters, sequence logs, calibration history). Export options include ASCII (.txt), CSV, and AIA/ANDI-compliant formats for interoperability with enterprise data systems. All method files retain full traceability; version-controlled backups and encrypted local storage mitigate data integrity risks during routine maintenance or user transitions.

Applications

• Food & Beverage Analysis: Quantification of amino acids (e.g., glutamic acid, lysine), organic acids (citric, malic), synthetic dyes (tartrazine, amaranth), preservatives (sorbic acid, benzoic acid), mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A), and PAHs in smoked meats and oils
• Environmental Monitoring: Residue analysis of carbamate pesticides (carbaryl, aldicarb) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, benzo[a]pyrene) in surface water and sediment extracts
• Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Research: Stability-indicating assays for small-molecule APIs, purity profiling of insulin analogs and monoclonal antibody fragments, and pharmacokinetic studies of drug metabolites in plasma using protein precipitation/LLE sample prep
• Clinical Diagnostics: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine, nortriptyline), antiepileptics (phenobarbital), and antibiotics (gentamicin, vancomycin) following CLSI EP10-A3 protocols
• Inorganic Speciation: Anion-exchange HPLC with conductivity detection (when paired with compatible suppressor and detector) for chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate speciation in drinking water per EPA Method 300.0

FAQ

Is this LC-2010 unit certified for GMP/GLP use?

The refurbished system undergoes functional verification per Shimadzu’s OEM service protocol, including pump flow accuracy, gradient composition verification, detector wavelength calibration, and autosampler precision testing. Full GMP/GLP compliance requires site-specific IQ/OQ/PQ validation executed by the end user or qualified third party.
What software versions are supported?

Units refurbished after 2018 typically ship with LabSolutions LC Ver. 5.9x or later; earlier refurbishments may include Class VP Ver. 6.1x. License transfer eligibility depends on original purchase terms and must be confirmed prior to deployment.
Can the system be upgraded with modern detectors or communication interfaces?

Yes—the LC-2010’s modular design allows retrofitting of newer Shimadzu SPD-M30A photodiode array detectors or CBM-20A communications modules, provided mechanical and firmware compatibility is verified by an authorized service engineer.
What warranty and post-purchase support is included?

All units include a standard 12-month parts-and-labor warranty covering pump heads, seal assemblies, detector lamps, and autosampler syringes. Extended service plans and remote diagnostics support are available through Shimadzu-certified refurbishment partners.
Does the system include column heaters or additional detectors?

The base configuration includes only the column oven and UV-Vis detector specified. Optional accessories—such as fluorescence or electrochemical detectors, fraction collectors, or auxiliary solvent reservoirs—are quoted separately and installed pre-shipment upon request.