Life span of an HPLC 1100

[thohry]

Hi all,

In our lab, we have the problem of replacing 2 HPLCs 1100 which are 8 years old. In fact the HPLC can still be used but my boss doubt that they are really good or not. UV lamps and pump seals are replaced quite often.
Anyone have any ideas that the 1100LCs have a lifespan or they just can be used until you can not use them?

Thanks

[Pradeep Iyer]

hi there...
we have used 1100 upto 6 yoears now so I really don know if it will be fine after 8 years but i can say that till now it has not given us any major problems!!!
Also if the replacements are more too often then it is logical to buy a new system to cover the costs...
But if the cost factor is not getting too high and the instrument is passing the specifications and the OQ/PV then there is no need to change the system and you can be sure that the system is working fine!!!

[bisnettrj2]

How often is "quite often"? Pump seals, when used with the appropriate solvents and add-ons, the seals should last a long time. If you're using buffers they can salt-out on the seal, which reduces seal life, but this can be prevented using the seal-wash upgrade. Make sure you're using the right seals though - Agilent sells seals for reversed and normal phase. Also, are you sure it's the seals, and not the AIVs or the AIV cartridges or the outlet ball valves or the plungers that are the culprits in a leak situation, which at first glance might cause you to think the seals were leaking?

As for the lamps, you should get between 800 and 2000 hours (depending on lamp type) per lamp. So, two new HPLCs for $90 worth of seals and a $800 lamp every few months? Sounds like overkill to me. On the other hand, a service contract, even for an old 1100, is between 5-10k per year. A new LC, would be, (just guessing) $50k, ballpark? Maybe more? Just my two cents.

On the other hand, depending on the work you do, a UPLC from Agilent or Waters (or any of the other vendors who sell a "UPLC") might be able to do the work of both HPLCs (higher throughput, faster runtimes, etc). But remember, all instruments do have maintenance needs or service contract costs, so bear that in mind when budgeting for new equipment.

Oh, and until last year, my boss was still using 1090's for everyday LC/MS analysis, until his last one died. So, as long as they're maintained and you can get spare parts, you can use one of these instruments for a good long while.

[coffee bean]

or they just can be used until you can not use them?

I guess you have your answer

If you choose to replace them, you may need to do some extra work - and hidden costs will appear - that could be postponed until the real need of replacement comes. That could be an issue.

[lmh]

Does your boss have any evidence to support his doubt that they're good?

Any hplc should pass tests: for instance, does the pump supply the correct volume of solvent per minute? Does it pass a gradient test? Does the autosampler still inject the same amount every time (precision) and does it inject the right amount (accuracy)?

If your hplc is still passing its tests, it is fine to use it. If you aren't doing any tests, you are skating on thin ice: if you're unlucky, a 6-month old instrument can go wrong and give bad results. Merely being 8 years old means very little.

1100s are incredibly robust, and maintained correctly, can last a very long time.

Of course your boss may also be seeing a political opportunity to get more kit that he/she thinks you'll need in the future, but won't necessarily be able to afford in the future, so there may be a bigger picture at work.

[jpwoods]

We have HPLCs that are over 20 years old and still perform fine. Most chromatographs have extremely long lifetimes as long as they are maintained well. You should be replacing seals and lamps every year or two anyway. Like others said might be more office politics than real need, but if you can get the new generation of UPLC then go for it!

[Vlad Orlovsky]

We have HP1100 (not even Agilent 1100), which we are using for almost 6 years (24/7/365), before that these systems were at Pfizer in our lab and we used them for another 5-7 years. Agilent 1100 works like a clock. Probably one of the best machines ever created. You just need to take care of few things: turning off lamp and pumps if you are not using it (overnight), change seals, filter solvents, etc. It is as close to Perpetuum Mobile as possible
D

[Consumer Products Guy]

We have HP1100 (not even Agilent 1100), which we are using for almost 6 years (24/7/365), before that these systems were at Pfizer in our lab and we used them for another 5-7 years. Agilent 1100 works like a clock. Probably one of the best machines ever created. You just need to take care of few things: turning off lamp and pumps if you are not using it (overnight), change seals, filter solvents, etc. It is as close to Perpetuum Mobile as possible :D
D

Not only do we still have several HP 1100 systems operating here, we also have four HP 1050 systems (their predecessors) operating fine (they share a fair amount of parts with the 1100). They all pass routine system suitability requirements. Some of those units were BEFORE computerization, and were computerized in the field. I agree that these are some of the most reliable pieces of equipment around. We do a lot of cGMP and GLP regulated assays on our 1100 systems (qualified systems), and NONE of those is less than the 8-year age of yours !!!

In other words, please ship those old 1100 systems to me !!!

[thohry]

Thank you all for sharing ideas. I now can hep the boss. Anyway you know, sometimes mr. boss just want to have instruments that are state of the art, just for showing. In this case, a UPLC probably is an answer.
Anyone have more ideas , please tell me.
thanks.

[JGK]

It may also depend on the type of analysis you are performing. A system performing analyses on "clean" matrices may fare better than one analysing complicated extracts.

I've just joined a lab where the equipment is in varying stages of repair and have suggested a rolling replacement plan with HPLC life span set at 8 years (with a review option if the instrument is functioning well).

[Victor]

I think this is an interesting question.

It would be interesting to compare things like the flow rate stability of the HP1090, the Agilent 1050, the Agilent 1100 and Agilent 1200 (or the latest UHPLC capable thing) by measuring the rsd of a series of injections for the same compound under the same conditions with the same column. Would there be a significant difference between them? Also to compare the S/N ratio of the detectors-but this is more difficult as detector cells vary. BUt you could select e.g. the smallest 1cm path length cell available with each instrument.....The system bandspreading and the gradient delay volume would also be interesting points of comparison, but these are not really fixed quantities, since often the system can be adapted (e.g. by changing detector cells etc). I think only if you did this would you see if there were improvements in the system that would be useful to you. Of course if the 1100 is doing what you want it to do, then I agree with everyone else.

Well-I suppose you could look at the specifications of each instrument, but these are manufacturer results so personally I would want to see some independent results.

I remember comparing a 1980s Spectra Physics system with a 1100 system purchased around 2003 once, and there were really important improvements in rsd of retention times on the more modern system.

[HPLCCONSULT]

I would think you should be able to get twenty or more years out of your 1100/1200-Series HPLC system with routine maintenance and no abuse.

Our lab utilizes numerous HP 1090, HP 1050, HP 1100 and Agilent 1200-series HPLC systems. Many are run 5 days a week for twelve or more hours each day. We have been running the HP 1090's since the late 1980's and early 1990's (one dates from 1986 while the other 1992). Both have been upgraded over the years and have series-II DAD's installed plus DR-5 ternary and PV-5 pumping systems. They operate perfectly and are put through elaborate PV's each year which they pass with ease. Not bad for systems that are over twenty years old.

Our HP 1050's also have DAD's and A/S which have been in operation since the early 1990's and they also function fine. Just the usual parts (seals, rotors, pistons, frits) to keep them in perfect running condition. Since the 1100/1200-Series unit share many of the same parts and design features of the 1050, it is no wonder that these systems are also just as reliable. The only "extra" items that fail with a higher frequency on the 1050/1100/1200-series systems would be the vacuum degassers as we usually replace a part in one every three to five years. Other than that, they all work great and require only normal maintenance and cleaning. *Every system in our lab gets a full PM every six months and full PV & OQ as well to make sure it meets our specifications.

As for performance, well we can optimize and tune an 1100/1200-series system for just about any application (flow and composition). New and old systems offer(ed) a variety of flow cell dimensions and mixing options so you could configure them for the desired task. The 1050-series used the exact same pump so the two systems are identical in performance as long as you plumb them up the same and input the same settings. Our older HP 1090 Series-II, DR-5 system can equal all of the newer ones in the area of flow precision at typical analytical flow rates. The new systems offer variable volume stroke capability which was something unavailable with the older 1080/1090 designs so that feature allows the newer system to perform better with mixing at low flow rates due to the variable rate metering system. In all cases you need to optimize the system to your application for the best performance (BTW: This is something that most users never do as they use the HPLC 'as delivered').

[clwaldru]

Our 1100 is giving much lower than expected peaks.
I checked the lamp hours and the Accumulated UV on time is 18,387.20 h and 548 ignitions and the Accumulated Visible on time is 17,884.75 hours and 467 switch ons. I spoke with the main user of this instrument and he said that he has never changed the bulbs. Is it possible that a bulb could get this many hours and still work and not have a broken filament? I know Agilent says it should get 1000-2000 hours before it needs changing so if this is correct this instrument is overdue for a bulb change.

[Vlad Orlovsky]

We have six 1100 models, which we bought from former employer in 2003. These were at least 5 years old when we bought them. All of them are working like a clock, we just replace some seals, lamps and filters from time to time. In my opinion it is one of the most durable and nicely built unit, no wonder they sold a lot of them.

[Consumer Products Guy]

Change the lamp, too many hours.


Yes, Agilent 1100 systems are very reliable and long-lived, we have about 6 of them here.

The 1050 systems were good too, but a VWD and automatic samplers could have module failures costing about $3K to fix, and now parts are difficult/impossible to source as new.