Chromatography Forum

What is your opinion on Waters H Class versus Agilent 1200 Series
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I work on agilent equipment and love it.

I was a little confused as in the title you said Agilent 1220 and in the post you are comparing Waters Acquity H-class with Agilent 1200 series.

The main difference between two systems you mentioned are pressure limits.

The Waters Acquity H-class can operate up to 15000 psi @ 1 mL/min and 9000 psi @ 2 mL/min.

Both 1220 Infinity system and 1200 series have a pressure limit of 600 bar, which translates into 8700 psi. The maximum flow rate for 1220 Infinity is 10 mL/min and for 1200 series is 5 mL/min.

If you want to use UPLC columns (with 1.7 um particles or smaller), Waters Acquity H-class is the way to go.

Hope this helps.

In fact, with max pressure of 600 bar, you still can run a 1.7 (1. micron column provided it's not too long, say 100 mm long).
In comparing the two system, you should consider the price as well. 1220 HPLC as I know, it's the most affordable within 1200 series

... The maximum flow rate for 1220 Infinity is 10 mL/min and for 1200 series is 5 mL/min. ...
Hope this helps.

I have to correct your answer. Maximum flow rate for Agilent 1200 is 10 ml/min. but back pressure cannot be higher than 200 bars.

The 1220 is an entry level LC. Is is a simplified version of the 1200 series, with fewer options. It is a single box, not a stack of modules, so upgrading/changing is not easy. However, it is designed to be less expensive than the 1200.

You really want to compare the 1200, or maybe the 1200 SL (high pressure option), with the H-class, not the 1220.

Agilent and Waters, both acheive high pressure. But one point for sure is that one is modular while the other is not. Where Agilent, PE and Shimadzu had huge advantage, Waters realized that they needed needle flow through, which is much better in reducing carryover. so here is the H class... better late than never !

But, how good is the pumping system, injection cycle, carryover, data acquisition speed, range of inection volume, range of pumping capabilities? Maybe look at the Shimadzu "Nexera", you will be surprised. Visit www.ssi.shimadzu.com, it is not for nothing that they advertize "with no compromise"...

Shimadzu is in many mass spec labs and the UFLC has been used for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics...

I am not a fan pushing all in a block system. You need to make sure that you will not need further expansion for the whole life of the instrument. Is the difference in price worth being stock in the futur? if you want new technology, you just change modules... think about this...

Regards,

Other comments:
The ultra high pressure (> 600 bar) is only needed if you want to use the very small columns in longer lengths, which means very high efficiencies. If you do not need maximum separation, then do not worry about the pressure specifications. Look at other factors when making your comparison.

Also, if you are looking at both Agilent and Waters, and considering Shimadzu, you should also look at Dionex. Chromeleon software is probably the most powerful on the market.