The Waters ACQUITY UPLC M-Class is a high-pressure liquid chromatography platform designed specifically for nano- to microflow separations and mass spectrometry coupling. Unlike conventional analytical LC systems, it provides direct, non-split solvent delivery from 200 nL/min to 100 µL/min at pressures up to 15,000 psi (approximately 1,034 bar). Its low-dispersion architecture, precise flow control, and non-ferrous sample flow path make it particularly suitable for sample-limited applications, proteomics, biomarker discovery, and highly sensitive LC/MS analysis.
The offered configuration comprises four key ACQUITY UPLC M-Class modules: the μBinary Solvent Manager, μSample Manager-FL, Auxiliary Solvent Manager, and Trap Valve Manager. This arrangement supports both direct nano-/microflow separations and advanced trap-and-elute workflows. The Auxiliary Solvent Manager provides an additional independent solvent-delivery path, enabling sample loading and trap washing to be separated from the analytical gradient generated by the μBSM.
Included Modules
Waters ACQUITY UPLC M-Class μBinary Solvent Manager
The μBinary Solvent Manager is the primary high-pressure solvent delivery module of the system. It generates precise binary gradients directly in the nano- to microflow range without requiring post-pump flow splitting, supporting reproducible retention times and accurate gradients in sensitive LC/MS workflows.
- Module: μBinary Solvent Manager
- Part Number: 186016003
- Function: Primary binary high-pressure pump
- Application: Nano-/microflow analytical gradient
- Power: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
- Maximum power draw: 360 VA
- Approximate dimensions:
- width 34.3 cm
- depth 66.1 cm
- height 23.8 cm
Waters ACQUITY UPLC M-Class μSample Manager-FL
The μSample Manager-FL is a fixed-loop autosampler designed for accurate introduction of small sample volumes in nano- and microflow chromatography. The M-Class system uses a non-ferrous sample flow path to help preserve sensitive analytes, while system specifications provide an injection range of 0.1–100 µL and sample temperature control from 4 to 40 °C.
- Part Number: 186016012
- Type: Fixed Loop Sample Manager
- Function: Automated sample injection
- System injection range: 0.1–100 µL
- Sample compartment: 4–40 °C
- Sample flow path: Non-ferrous
- Power: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
- Maximum power draw: 400 VA
- Approximate dimensions:
- width 34.3 cm
- depth 71.2 cm
- height 27.1 cm
Waters ACQUITY UPLC M-Class Auxiliary Solvent Manager
The Auxiliary Solvent Manager provides an additional independent solvent-delivery path. In trap-and-elute configurations it can handle sample loading and trap washing while the μBSM remains dedicated to the analytical gradient, improving workflow flexibility and trapping efficiency.
- Part Number: 186016022
- Function: Auxiliary solvent delivery
- Typical roles:
- trap loading
- trap washing
- sample loading
- auxiliary low-flow solvent delivery
- Power: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
- Maximum power draw: 360 VA
- Approximate dimensions:
- width 34.3 cm
- depth 66.1 cm
- height 23.8 cm
Waters ACQUITY UPLC M-Class Trap Valve Manager
The Trap Valve Manager controls fluidic paths associated with trapping and analytical columns. It enables switching between loading, trapping, and analytical separation and is a key module for trap-and-elute nanoLC workflows. Waters applications use the TVM for trap-column switching and temperature-managed column configurations.
- Part Number: 186016016
- Functions:
- trapping flow-path control
- trap/analytical column switching
- trap-and-elute workflow support
- support for temperature-controlled column configurations
- Power: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
- Maximum power draw: 150 VA
- Approximate dimensions:
- width 34.3 cm
- depth 61.0 cm
- height 16.5 cm
System Technical Specifications
- Product: ACQUITY UPLC M-Class System
- System Type: Nano-/microflow UPLC
- Pump Configuration: Binary
- Maximum Operating Pressure: 15,000 psi / approximately 1,034 bar
- Operating Flow Range: 200 nL/min–100 µL/min
- Flow Splitting: Not required
- pH Range: 2–10
- Injection Volume: 0.1–100 µL
- Sample Compartment: 4–40 °C
- Sample Flow Path: Non-ferrous
- Typical high-efficiency column ID range: 75 µm–1.0 mm
- System column capacity specification: up to 4.6 mm ID and 250 mm length, depending on configuration
- Maximum Sample Capacity: up to 21 plates with optional Sample Organizer
- Detector Options:
- mass spectrometers
- PDA detector
- TUV detector
- External Control: MassLynx Software according to Waters system specifications.
Trap-and-Elute Operation
The combination of μBSM + ASM + μSM-FL + TVM enables advanced trapping workflows. A sample can first be loaded onto a short trap column, allowing target analytes to be retained while portions of the sample matrix are removed. The TVM then switches the trap into the analytical flow path, transferring retained compounds onto the nano- or microflow analytical column.
Waters describes three representative modes:
- single-pump trapping,
- dual-pump reverse-flush trapping,
- direct injection.
Typical Applications
- NanoLC/MS
- Microflow LC/MS
- Proteomics
- Peptide analysis
- Biomarker discovery
- Protein digest analysis
- Omics workflows
- Trace bioanalysis
- Trap-and-elute separations
- Sample-limited biological analysis
- Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research
- Metabolomics
- High-sensitivity MS workflows
