Waters Charged Aerosol Detector (CAD)

Expand Your Detection Range with a Detector Purpose-Built for Empower™ Software

Empower™ Software–based laboratories require detection solutions that are easy to adopt, robust, and capable of accurately quantifying non-volatile and semi-volatile compounds—regardless of chemical structure or UV activity.
The Waters Charged Aerosol Detector (CAD) is purposefully engineered to meet these demands, delivering universal, reliable detection fully integrated with Waters chromatography systems and Empower™ or MassLynx™ Software.

With a wide dynamic range exceeding four orders of magnitude, the Waters CAD enables simultaneous quantitation of low-level, non-UV-active analytes, along with related impurities and excipients, in a single run—helping laboratories reduce method development time, increase productivity, and improve process control.

Key Benefits

• Universal detection without UV limitations
  Detect and quantify non-volatile and semi-volatile compounds independent of chromophore presence.
• Wide dynamic range (>4 orders of magnitude)
  Confidently quantify trace-level components and major constituents simultaneously.
• Purpose-built for Empower™ Software
  Seamless integration into regulated workflows with Empower-based qualification and long-term software compatibility.
• Compatible across Waters LC platforms
  Integrates easily with Alliance™, Arc™, ACQUITY™ Arc, ACQUITY™ H-Class, ACQUITY™ I-Class, and UPLC™ Systems.
• Designed for robustness and ease of use
  Optimized hardware, simplified maintenance, and enhanced system protection features minimize downtime.

Technical Specifications

Detector Performance

• Detector flow rate:
  0.010–2.000 mL/min
• Dynamic range:
  Greater than four orders of magnitude (four individual power values)
• Sampling rate:
  Up to 200 Hz
• Number of channels:
  Four (4), supported by four (4) independent background current channels

Temperature Control

• Evaporation temperature:
  • Ambient (off)
  • Controlled range: 10 °C to 100 °C (0.1 °C increments)
  • Minimum of 5 °C above ambient

Gas Requirements

• Inert gas supply:
  Nitrogen (recommended) or compressed air
• Inlet pressure:
  4.83–5.52 bar
  (483–552 kPa, 70.0–80.0 psi)
• Gas consumption:
  Typically ≤ 5 L/min

Diagnostics and Monitoring

• Diagnostic channels include:
  • Nebulizer gas flow and pressure (psi)
  • Evaporator temperature (°C)
  • Ion trap voltage (V)
  • Charger current (µA)
  • Mixing chamber temperature (°C)

Electrical and Physical Specifications

• Power requirements:
  100–240 VAC
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 34.3 cm (13.5 in)
  • Height: 20.8 cm (8.2 in)
  • Depth: 61.0 cm (24.0 in)
• Biocompatible:
  No

Software and System Compatibility

• Optimized for Empower™ Software and MassLynx™ Software control
• Robust chromatography data system (CDS) communications to minimize downtime
• Backward compatibility to Empower™ 3 Feature Release 4 Service Release 3 (SR3)
• Fully compatible with systems qualification and validation requirements in regulated environments

Seamless Method Transfer Across Laboratories

The Waters CAD is designed to simplify method transfer within organizations and across external laboratories. It maintains method simplicity while adding enhanced tools for equivalency and reproducibility, reducing the need for revalidation when transitioning from legacy or third-party CAD solutions.

The intuitive ACQUITY™ console control panel enables straightforward operation and simplifies replacement of outdated technology across laboratory networks.

Designed for Ease of Use and Reliability

• Single filter manifold with push/pull filter replacement
• Easy-to-replace nebulizer for improved serviceability
• Intelligent divert valve automatically sends flow to waste if gas pressure is lost or system errors occur
• Enhanced leak detection and flood protection, safeguarding instruments in the event of CDS communication loss

Recommended Use

Accurate quantitation in:

• HPLC, UHPLC, and UPLC separations
• Preparative and purification workflows
• Pharmaceutical QC and R&D
• Analysis of excipients, lipids, sugars, surfactants, and non-UV-active impurities