ACQUITY UPLC®Technology - Transforming Lives and Laboratories for 15 Years

Importance of the Topic

Since its introduction in 2004, Waters’ ACQUITY UPLC technology has reshaped liquid chromatography by delivering unmatched gains in speed, resolution, and sensitivity. This holistic innovation—combining advanced particle chemistry and instrument design—has enabled laboratories to tackle increasingly complex analytical challenges, reduce run times, and improve detection limits across multiple fields including pharmaceutical research, food quality, and polymer characterization.

Study Objectives and Overview

The primary aim of this overview is to trace the evolution of the ACQUITY product family over 15 years, highlight major technological milestones, and showcase representative business solutions. Emphasis is placed on how improvements in instrument configuration, pump and detector design, and software integration have driven scientific discovery and operational efficiency.

Methodology and Instrumentation

This technology journey is built upon simultaneous innovations:

• Particle Technology: Sub-2 µm hybrid particles and polymer chemistries for narrow peaks and high resolution.
• Instrument Design: High-pressure solvent managers (up to 18,000 psi), low-dispersion fluidics, and multi-dimensional valve systems.
• Detection Modules: Optical detectors (PDA, UV/Vis, FLR, RI, ELS) and mass detectors (QDa, Xevo TQ-XS) for enhanced selectivity.
• Automation & Software: Empower 3 and integrated method development tools for column selection, buffer blending, and intelligent sample management.

Main Results and Discussion

Continuous product launches—from the first ACQUITY UPLC System to specialized platforms such as APC for polymer analysis, UPC2 for chiral separations, and IVD-certified systems—have cumulatively exceeded 40,000 global installations. Key performance achievements include:

• Run times reduced by up to 73%, cutting 15-minute assays to 4 minutes.
• Solvent consumption lowered by nearly 90% in high-throughput workflows.
• Dispersion volumes reduced to as low as 4 µL, boosting peak efficiency and mass spectrometer sensitivity.

Real-world deployments demonstrate robust sample throughput, reduced carryover, and expanded application scope from nano-scale proteomics to large-molecule polymer profiling.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Transformations across multiple industries underscore the practical value:

• Food Quality (Kalsec): Faster quantification of capsaicinoids with UPLC-UV/FLR and mass detection, enabling rapid lot release and consistent ingredient profiling.
• Precision Medicine (National University Hospital): High-sensitivity biomarker assays with reduced sample volumes using UPLC I-Class and Xevo TQ-XS, accelerating disease marker discovery.
• Polymer Characterization (Intertek): Ultra-high-performance SEC with ACQUITY APC slashes equilibration times, enhances oligomer detection, and expands service capabilities.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions include further miniaturization for micro- and nano-flow LC/MS, expanded multi-dimensional workflows with real-time data analytics, integration of AI-driven method development, and green chromatography with lower solvent footprints. Anticipated growth areas span personalized medicine, advanced materials research, and fully automated, high-throughput QC platforms.

Conclusion

Over 15 years, ACQUITY UPLC technology has set new benchmarks in analytical performance, driving scientific breakthroughs and operational efficiencies. By continually refining pump design, column chemistry, and detection options, Waters has expanded the frontiers of chromatography, empowering laboratories to meet ever-growing demands for speed, sensitivity, and versatility.

Reference

Waters Corporation. ACQUITY UPLC Technology: Transforming Lives and Laboratories for 15 Years. 2019.