Nexera Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) System

Description

Shimadzu's Nexera Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) System is an integrated platform for determining the molecular weight distribution of polymers. The system is designed for reliability, reproducibility, and operational flexibility. Its hardware components are engineered for stability, featuring high-speed micro-plunger pumps with automatic pulse compensation to ensure pulse-free solvent delivery and excellent retention time reproducibility. The system offers a flow rate range from 0.0001 to 10 mL/min and column temperature control from 10°C above ambient to 85°C. A key detector for GPC analysis, the RID-20A differential refractive index detector, is included. This detector incorporates dual temperature-controlled optics and a reference cell auto-purge function to maintain superior baseline stability, minimizing sensitivity to ambient temperature fluctuations. When configured with additional detectors, such as a photodiode array (PDA), the system's software can employ peak deconvolution algorithms (i-PDeA II based on MCR-ALS) to resolve overlapping peaks, which is useful for identifying unseparated additives or confirming peak purity. The accompanying GPC software provides an interface for controlling the system, automating workflows (including overlap injection), and processing data for molecular weight calculations. Analytical intelligence functions are integrated to monitor system performance, protect columns, and detect flow anomalies in real time.