Buy a HPLC

[tonja79]

Hi at All
I'm a Italian researcher and my company would buy a HPLC. We could analyse the dyes into hair colour cream. Can you help me to search a best configuration of HPLC for my laboratory?
Thanks

[Mark Tracy]

I have done only a little work on dyes, but I have found that the detector should have a tungsten light source for good performance in the range of 400-800nm. Also, multiple wavelength capability is very nice, and (budget permitting) a PDA is even better. (I used dyes when I did internal testing for Dionex's new VWD and PDA models. They did well for me.)

[jtreacy]

Tonja

The minimum you would need is :-

A degasser

A pump - binary or quarternary for flexibility

An autosampler

A UV/visible detector. A photodiode array detector (PDA) might be best if you need to develop methods.

A PC based data handling/control system. Don't neglect this area because a poor data system can be hellish.

All the suppliers will do this as a package.

Other things you might consider are - How much lab space have you got? If restricted a stackiing system might be best.

Is speed important? Then you might consider the new fast systems (e.g Agilent 1200 or Waters UPLC)

I use Agilent systems and they are the ones I favour - but this is based on my preferences only - other people would have strong preferences for others.

John

[PJ8]

I've only used Agilent 1100's and Waters Alliance (well I used a decrepit 1090 once too, less said about that the better.) Either would suit your purpose, but I prefer to use the Agilents if I can (perhaps just because they are newer and more reliable, perhaps because my first year of chromatography was exclusively on Agilents, but mainly I think because it is easier to do everyday things like purging lines and stuff on Agilents and they are generally a bit more users friendly and reliable.)

There's a lot of decent LC's out there so I guess one of the most important things is to ensure good engineering support. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for a part or someone to look at your machine.

[unmgvar]

have considered as well using HPTLC methods?

creams are tough on any type of HPLC. if you will use it for a daily use you will need to perform a lot of maintenance and washing procedure to clean your instrument from all the "junk" that you will be injecting into it.

HPTLC could also save you alot of money and effort on solvent consuption for sample prep, and analyses, especially if you have very organics methods. and you will save time for analyses.
i recommend that you go and have a look at the CAMAG products as well and not just restrict yourself to one type of instrumentation.

they might be more efficient and friendly to use then HPLC for you in the end.

[rebeca]

Hi tonja79,

We have on our lab Lachroms and Waters HPLC instruments.
And i can honestly say that Lachrom is much better on creams.
The waters autosampler system is very sensitive to carryovers, especially with cream applicatons.
I know from other labs that checks creams on a regular basis that Agilent and Dionex instruments are the best for those kind of tests.

Good Luck!!!