Customers hope to improve the productivity of laboratory analysis through ultra-high speed analysis and multianalyte processing, but simply shortening analysis times cannot be called true high-throughput analysis. True high-throughput analysis is achieved by shortening the time required for all steps involved in analysis, such as reducing the time required for injecting samples, restoring column equilibrium after gradients, rinsing the autosampler to reduce carryover, and setting up large numbers of samples.
Supporting Various Aspects of Ultra-High Speed Analysis
- Realize True High Throughput
- Realize Ultra-High Separation
- High-Efficiency Mixer and Precision Delivery Technology
- Cutting Down the Total Analysis Time
- Further Minimizes System Delay-Volume with Optional Loop Injection Method
- Large Sample Capacity for High-Throughput Sample Analysis
Achieving Ultra-High Speed Analysis
In addition to ultra-high speed autosampler injection, a
number of other features have been implemented to achieve ultra-high speed analysis, including overlapping injection, a low volume (20 µL) high-efficiency mixer and optional loop injection system that minimize delay volume, and extremely low carryover without rinsing. These improvements provide ultra-high speed analysis that outperforms all previous models from Shimadzu.
Achieving Ultra-High Separation
Nexera systems not only achieve ultra-high speed analysis, but also ultra-high separation as well. The 130 MPa capacity high-pressure system allows using high-efficiency columns, necessary for separating trace substances in complex samples. This enables both ultra-high speed and ultra-high separation analysis by using long columns with microparticle packing. In addition to offering high-pressure capability at a wide range of flow rates, Nexera’s ultra-high speed sample injection mechanism enables ultra-high separation in a short time.
High-Efficiency Mixer and Precision Delivery Technology
High-throughput analysis still requires precise reproducibility of separation and retention time. A new mixer (MiRC) conceived from the study of micro reactor technologies delivers efficient, low-volume mixing for even the most difficult analyses, such as those using TFA, thereby minimizing gradient delay. A micro volume pre-heater in addition to the overall system configuration further enhances the reduction of delay volume. Moreover, the LC-30AD pump features an automatic pulsation-correction mechanism and a high-speed parallel micro plunger design to provide pulse-free solvent delivery and excellent retention time reproducibility ─ even in ultra-high speed gradient conditions.
Cutting Down the Total Analysis Time
The Prominence UFLC (ultra fast LC) autosampler allows for rapid injection (10 sec). The Nexera builds upon this by providing the fastest injection speed with its patented engineering. In addition, overlapping injection is provided to further reduce total analysis time for the utmost in high throughput.
Further Minimizes System Delay-Volume with Optional Loop Injection Method
The SIL-30AC autosampler can be re-configured to provide the absolute lowest system delay volume by conversion to a loop injector. This configuration is simple and requires only changing a few plumbing connections.
Large Sample Capacity for High-Throughput Sample Analysis
Running thousands of analyses per day is not unusual. In such

demanding laboratories the maximum sample number for
unattended operation is as important as the analysis speed. The Nexera Rack Changer II accommodates up to 12 sample plates (96well, 384well, vial plates) to allow up to 4608 samples to be continuously analyzed unattended. The Rack Changer II incorporates fine temperature control with a cooling function (4 to 40°C) to minimize sample degradation during the process.
When large numbers of samples are placed in the autosampler, samples can degrade due to temperature. However, Nexera incorporates a temperature control unit with a cooling function that can not only maintain samples at a cool 4°C, but even stably control their temperature close to room temperature.
Nexera maintains full compatibility with Prominence series instruments, which have earned a reputation for exceptional core performance. Combining the Nexera with various Prominence units allows configuring more sophisticated or varied ultra-high speed LC systems.
The autosampler needle is equipped with a multi-rinse feature that makes it ideal as a front-end LC unit of an LCMS system used to analyze ultra-trace substances with high sensitivity. An automatic pretreatment function enables automating tedious sample pretreatment processes. High-temperature analysis using the newly developed column oven, which is capable of heating to 150 °C, enables more environmentally friendly analysis that does not use organic solvents (green LC).
In addition to ultra-high speed and separation, Nexera supports an increasingly wide variety of applications.
Compatible with various applications
- Automated Sample Pretreatment
- Green Chromatography at 150°C
- Best UHPLC as a Front-end for Mass Spectrometers
Automated Sample Pretreatment
The SIL-30AC autosampler incorporates pretreatment
functionalities such as dilution, addition of internal standard and pre-column derivatization schemes. These new features provide unattended operation for increased accuracy, precision and speed for high-throughput work.
Green Chromatography at 150°C
Green chromatography requires stable and
reliable temperature control at high temperature. The CTO-30A column oven provides precise temperature control up to 150°C with a newly designed solvent pre-heater, a proprietary Intelligent Heat Balancer (IHB) and post-column solvent cooling. The solvent preheater and IHB ensure uniform column temperature even at high flow rates.
Best UHPLC as a Front-end for Mass Spectrometers
The fastest gradient cycle time is achieved
with innovative hardware technology. The total system delay volume has been reduced to less than 42 µL with an ultra-low volume (20 µL) mixer, optional loop injection kit with 5 µL loop and micro-volume pre-heater.
Using Multiple Rinse Solutions Allows Reducing Carryover
Typically, optimal rinse solutions differ depending on the compound, such as organic solvents for low-polarity compounds and aqueous acid solutions for basic compounds. Ideally, a combination of rinse solutions is used, with good rinsing characteristics tailored to the target components. In particular, when using LC/MS to analyze trace components in biological samples, foods, or other samples containing a wide variety of substances, the role of the front-end LC unit of an LCMS system is to reduce the background noise from non-target substances and carryover as much as possible. The Nexera SIL-30AC features a multi-rinse function that allows selecting up to four solutions to ensure that the interior and exterior surfaces of the needles are well rinsed so that stable LCMS analysis is possible. The following shows the carryover when analyzing desipramine and amitriptyline. Neither was detected when the needle was immersed in the two rinse solutions. The 2-solution needle kit, provided standard with the instrument, and the multi-rinse function, which cleans the needle’s interior and exterior, ensure that carryover is extremely low under all kinds of conditions.
For pharmaceuticals and food products, and in many other industries, it is desirable to separate and quantitate impurities and other trace substances as accurately and quickly as possible. However, it is important that highly reliable data is obtained for everything from general-purpose analysis to ultra-high speed analysis, even under a variety of separation conditions.
Shimadzu’s Nexera is a genuine all-around HPLC that enables various types of analysis including conventional LC, ultra fast LC and ultra high-pressure LC up to 130 MPa without compromising performance and data quality. The maximized pressure, minimized delay volume and fast injection enable ultra-high speed cycle time in addition to maximizing peak capacity. With its newly designed column oven, Nexera is useful for a wide variety of applications such as high-temperature analysis and green HPLC. Additionally, the pretreatment autosampler extends the application range for full automation and maximum performance.
Uncompromising Performance
- Superior Performance for Every Application
- Precise Sample Injection Regardless of Volume
- Near-zero Carryover
- Absorbance Detectors with Excellent Stability and Sensitivity
- Fluorescence Detectors with World-Leading Sensitivity
Superior Performance for Every Application
In addition to ultra-high speed autosampler injection, a
number of other features have been implemented to achieve ultra-high speed analysis, including overlapping injection, a low volume (20 µL) high-efficiency mixer and optional loop injection system that minimize delay volume, and extremely low carryover without rinsing. These improvements provide ultra-high speed analysis that outperforms all previous models from Shimadzu.
Precise Sample Injection Regardless of Volume
The SIL-30AC autosampler achieves excellent injection volume reproducibility for even 0.1 μL injections through use of a high-resolution metering system (6 nL/step) and a precision-engineered valve. The autosampler meets reliability requirements in all analyses from micro to conventional.
Peak Area Reproducibility
Near-zero Carryover
Shimadzu continues to improve its low carryover
reputation with the Nexera autosampler. With reduction of the needle contact area, special coatings, surface treatments and a new needle seal, the SIL-30AC autosampler reaches a new level of low carryover performance. In addition to minimizing the fundamental causes for compound adsorption, Nexera offers multiple rinse modes with multiple rinse solvents to eliminate carryover of even the most stubborn of compounds. Active rinsing of all contact surfaces can be selected.
Absorbance Detectors with Excellent Stability and Sensitivity
Trace-level analyses, such as impurities analysis,
require a wider dynamic range and lower baseline disturbances. With a temperature-controlled flow cell and a stray-light correction function, both the SPD-20A UV and SPD-M20A Photo Diode Array detectors offer a high level of stability, sensitivity and linearity for confident analysis. The 100 Hz sampling of the SPD-20A/M20A ensures peak information can be captured without loss of separation and exploits the full potential of ultra-fast LC
Fluorescence Detectors with World-Leading Sensitivity
Sensitivity is the most important factor for
fluorescence detection. With a newly designed optical system, RF-20A/20Axs offer world-leading levels of sensitivity. A water Raman S/N ratio of at least 2000 for RF-20Axs or 1200 for RF-20A makes these detectors powerful tools for analyses that demand the detection of trace-level components.
RF-20Axs features a temperature-controlled cell with a cooling function.
It maintains a constant detector cell temperature, even if the room temperaturefluctuates significantly, to ensure superb reproducibility with no drop in sensitivity. The 100 Hz sampling of the RF-20A/20Axs permits ultra-fast LC analysis with no loss of resolution.