Cecil Instruments - HPLC: WaveQuest: Ultra Fast Scans


Ultra Fast Scans

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PowerStream Software - CE4900

PowerStream is a chromatography control and data processing software and interface developed by Cecil Instruments to be comprehensive and convenient to use from a single PC workstation. It provides powerful data handling and system control for isocratic, binary and ternary HPLC systems.

The software provides sophisticated spectral processing when used with the CE4300. Spectral data is transferred from the detector to the PC where it is graphically displayed, manipulated and exported as required.

Chromatographic peaks can be automatically scanned to determine purity, identify compounds, and determine optimum wavelengths for chromatogram monitoring – Lambda max scans. Multiple scans of peaks enable checks to be made of peak homogeneity.

Wavelength scans are compared with your own library to establish the identity of unknown compounds. A spectral library search facility is provided.

Visual comparison of spectra is valuable for identifying compounds and for comparing scans made for purity determination. To further assist assessment, a mathematical calculation is provided which produces a figure indicating the degree of match or similarity.

New Advanced Design

The design of the WaveQuest, CE4300, Dynamic Absorbance Detector is based on a double beam UV/Visible Wavelength Scanning Spectro-photometer concept with an optical system which also provides the highest performance as a dual wavelength, programmable detector.

The 4nm optical bandwidth, constant over the 190-700nm range, provides high quality spectral scans for easy identification of unknown components.

The digital signal processing and optical and mechanical systems provide ultra fast scanning and the best noise and drift performance available. Accurate measurements at high sensitivities are therefore possible.

Ultra Fast Scans of Narrow Peaks

The ultra high speed scanning of the CE4300 is shown. A very fast binary separation was carried out, on a Cecil gradient elution system 4S, of sixteen polyaromatic hydrocarbons, designated by the American Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants. The time for the elution was less than 4 minutes, using a 5cm column with a 3 micron packing.

Several of the peaks have widths at half height less than 1.5 seconds. The spectra of all peaks were displayed in real time and are shown here overlayed in groups of four.