Waters ARC PREMIER SYSTEM

Significance of the topic

The reliable analysis of metal-sensitive analytes is critical in pharmaceutical, biochemical and industrial laboratories. Interactions between solutes and exposed metal surfaces can cause adsorption, peak tailing and variable recovery, undermining data accuracy and reproducibility from the first injection.

Objectives and overview of the study

This summary examines the Waters Arc Premier System, which integrates MaxPeak High Performance Surfaces (HPS) technology to mitigate non-specific metal interactions. It aims to deliver robust chromatographic performance for metal-sensitive compounds without complex conditioning or mobile phase modifications.

Methodology and instrumentation

The Arc Premier System combines several key features:

• MaxPeak HPS technology to neutralize Lewis acid–base interactions and prevent adsorptive losses
• Pressure capability up to 9500 psi at 1–5 mL/min for compatibility with 2.5 µm column chemistries
• Flexible quaternary and binary pumping with Auto•Blend Plus and Gradient SmartStart for method transfer and reproducible mobile phase mixing
• Column manager supporting up to six columns (50–300 mm) with active temperature control (4–90 °C)
• Low-dispersion flow-through needle injector (0.1–1000 µL) and eCord chip technology
• Detection options: photodiode array, UV/Vis, fluorescence and mass detection (QDa, SQD2, Xevo TQ-S micro, TQ-S cronos)
• MaxPeak Premier columns optimized for HPS surfaces

Main results and discussion

Compared to conventional LC systems, the Arc Premier Solution demonstrated:

• Sharper, more symmetrical peaks for nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP) with enhanced sensitivity and linearity across 0.5–10 µg/mL
• 9–124× improvement in peak area reproducibility (%RSD) across multiple users
• Consistent peak areas over 120 injections for metal-sensitive compounds, contrasted with continuous growth and instability on conventional systems
• Stable performance over 1000 injections without additional conditioning
• No adverse impact on non-metal-sensitive analytes, ensuring seamless transfer of existing methods

Benefits and practical applications

The system delivers:

• Improved compliance and data quality from the first injection
• Faster, more reproducible data integration with reduced RSD
• Reduced analysis time and solvent consumption by eliminating conditioning steps
• Easier method transfer between laboratories and instruments
• Enhanced laboratory productivity and lower operational costs

Future trends and opportunities

Emerging directions include:

• Expansion of HPS surface chemistries for novel stationary phases
• Integration with automated method development and AI-driven optimization
• Miniaturization and high-throughput workflows for omics and biomarker analysis
• Focus on green chromatography and reduced solvent use
• Broader adoption in regulated environments for bioanalysis and quality control

Conclusion

The Waters Arc Premier System with MaxPeak HPS technology offers a robust, reliable platform for metal-sensitive analyte analysis. It streamlines workflows by eliminating complex conditioning, delivers high-quality data from the first injection and ensures reproducible performance across laboratories and applications.

Instrumentation

Key components include MaxPeak HPS-enabled pumping (9500 psi), Auto•Blend Plus solvent mixing, eCord intelligent chips, column management (six columns, 50–300 mm), low-carryover injector, PDA/UV/FLR detectors and multiple mass spectrometry options (QDa, SQD2, Xevo TQ-S micro, TQ-S cronos).