Chromatography Systems: How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Lab
Chromatography systems are essential analytical instruments used to separate, identify, and quantify compounds. They are widely applied in pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, food, and research laboratories for purposes ranging from routine quality control to advanced purification and bioanalytical workflows.
Understanding how chromatography systems are used — and how to choose the right type — helps labs select equipment that fits both their technical requirements and budget, whether buying new or sourcing used or refurbished systems.
Types of Chromatography Systems
Different chromatography systems are designed for specific applications:
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) / Ultra HPLC (UHPLC)
- For non-volatile, thermally sensitive compounds. Common in pharma, biotech, and research labs for analytical separation.
- Gas Chromatography (GC)
- Ideal for volatile and semi-volatile compounds. Widely used in environmental testing, chemicals, and forensic labs.
- Ion Chromatography (IC)
- Used for analyzing ions and polar molecules, commonly in water and environmental analysis.
- Flash Chromatography
- For rapid purification of compounds on a research or medicinal chemistry scale.
- Preparative Chromatography / FPLC
- For purifying proteins, peptides, or small molecules, often at larger scale than analytical HPLC.
Each system type may be paired with detectors such as UV, PDA, fluorescence, or mass spectrometry, depending on sensitivity and selectivity requirements.
How to Choose a Chromatography System
Selecting the right system depends on several factors:
- Sample Type – Volatile compounds require GC, while biological or thermally sensitive samples need HPLC/UHPLC or FPLC.
- Throughput & Speed – High-throughput labs may prioritize faster run times and automation.
- Resolution & Sensitivity – Complex samples may require high-pressure systems, advanced columns, or sensitive detectors.
- Detector Compatibility – Consider whether UV, PDA, fluorescence, or mass spectrometry detection is needed.
- Budget & Lifecycle Costs – Used or refurbished chromatography systems can significantly reduce upfront costs while still meeting performance needs.
Chromatography Systems You Might Consider
Depending on your workflow, labs often consider the following widely recognized systems:
- Protein Purification & Biopharmaceutical Research:
- GE AKTA Avant 25 Chromatography system – antibody purification, enzyme workflows, and biomolecule separation.
- GE AKTA Pure / FPLC systems – small- to medium-scale protein purification and method development.
- Flash Chromatography & Organic Compound Purification:
- Grace Reveleris X2 Flash Chromatography system – research-scale purification in chemistry labs.
- Teledyne CombiFlash Rf Flash Chromatography system – automated, method-driven purification workflows.
- Teledyne CombiFlash Companion XL Flash Chromatography system – higher-capacity purification for larger sample loads.
- Analytical HPLC & Routine Separations:
- WATERS 2695 Alliance Separations Module – validated HPLC methods, QC, regulated labs, and analytical research.
- Agilent 1260 / 1290 Infinity II HPLC systems – reproducible, versatile analytical workflows.
- Shimadzu Prominence / Nexera UHPLC systems – high resolution and fast throughput.
- Specialized / Preparative Chromatography:
- GE AKTA Avant 150 / 900 Chromatography systems – larger-scale protein or biomolecule purification.
- Waters Prep HPLC / AutoPurification systems – preparative separation of synthetic or natural compounds.
These examples give labs practical guidance on systems to evaluate while also showing the range of widely used platforms in research, pharma, and biotech environments.
Buying New vs Refurbished
Many laboratories choose used or refurbished chromatography systems to expand capacity or replace aging equipment. Well-maintained platforms from major manufacturers retain long service life and are widely supported.
When evaluating pre-owned systems, buyers should consider:
- System configuration and included modules
- Software versions and licensing
- Maintenance and service history
- Compatibility with existing columns and detectors
Used or refurbished systems can reduce costs without compromising performance, making them a practical option for labs scaling up workflows or adding redundancy.
Choosing The Right System
Chromatography systems remain a core technology in analytical and preparative laboratories. By understanding the types of systems, how they are used, and how to select the right platform, labs can make informed decisions that balance throughput, sensitivity, and budget.
Whether purchasing new or used, selecting the right chromatography system ensures accurate, reproducible results and efficient laboratory workflows.
Need the right Chromatography System for your lab workflow? Look at our catalog at ReBio today to explore new, refurbished, and surplus Chormatography options. Optimize your workflow, save costs, and ensure reliable results.
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