Sustainability assessment of Vanquish HPLC and UHPLC Systems

Significance of the Topic

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) are indispensable analytical techniques widely employed in pharmaceutical, environmental, and industrial laboratories. Despite their analytical power, these techniques can incur substantial environmental impacts due to energy-intensive operation and high solvent consumption. Assessing and reducing the carbon footprint of HPLC/UHPLC systems is essential for sustainable laboratory practices and regulatory compliance.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study evaluates the energy consumption and cradle-to-gate carbon footprint (PCF) of Thermo Fisher Scientific's Vanquish HPLC and UHPLC systems. Using the My Green Lab ACT Ecolabel 2.0 framework, the work aims to benchmark system configurations, quantify daily energy use, and highlight opportunities for efficiency improvements and transparency in environmental impact reporting.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Energy measurements followed a standardized third-party protocol for idle, ready, and run modes. Daily consumption was calculated assuming 15 hours idle, 1 hour ready, and 8 hours run. System configurations covered seven platform variants, including quaternary and binary pumps, autosamplers, column compartments, and detectors. The ACT Ecolabel criteria also considered materials, packaging, and product lifetime.

Key Results and Discussion

• The Vanquish Core HPLC systems consumed 2.1 kWh/day, while UHPLC configurations ranged from 3.6 to 5.3 kWh/day.
• Utilizing dual-channel UHPLC (Vanquish Duo) reduced energy per sample by 30%, from 0.079 to 0.055 kWh/sample.
• Sample cooling at 4 °C and column thermostat contributed significantly to energy use; selective cooling is recommended to balance integrity and sustainability.
• Cradle-to-gate PCF values spanned 4,218 to 5,935 kg CO2e, reflecting material sourcing and manufacturing impacts.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The analysis supports informed purchasing decisions by providing transparent environmental metrics. Laboratories can reduce operational costs and carbon emissions by selecting energy-efficient configurations, optimizing sample throughput with dual-channel systems, and minimizing unnecessary cooling operations.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Increasing integration of renewable energy sources and advances in instrument design will further lower lifecycle emissions. Expanded use of high-throughput dual-channel platforms, solvent reduction strategies, and digital monitoring of energy performance are anticipated. Transparent, standardized reporting frameworks will drive continuous sustainability improvements.

Conclusion

The Thermo Fisher Vanquish HPLC and UHPLC platforms demonstrate substantial variances in energy and carbon footprints across configurations. Adopting efficient system designs and leveraging dual-channel operation can yield considerable environmental and cost benefits. Comprehensive sustainability certification, such as the ACT Ecolabel, fosters transparency and guides the transition to greener analytical practices.

Used Instrumentation

• Vanquish Core Quaternary HPLC System
• Vanquish Core Binary HPLC System
• Vanquish Flex Quaternary UHPLC System
• Vanquish Flex Binary UHPLC System
• Vanquish Horizon UHPLC System
• Vanquish Duo UHPLC System
• Vanquish Neo UHPLC System

References

• Fitch et al., Green Chem., 2022, 24, 4516-4532