Shimadzu Corp. and Horiba Ltd., both of Japan, have concluded a basic agreement to commence collaboration on the development and sales of LC-Raman analytical and measuring instruments that combine Shimadzu’s high-performance liquid chromatographs (HPLCs, hereinafter LCs) with Horiba’s Raman spectrometers.
The two companies will combine their powerful technologies to support new developments in medicine and health care, life sciences, materials research, the environment and new energy, and various other fields. Shimadzu’s LC-Raman systems will combine technologies fostered by the two companies, with the LC efficiently separating components from mixed samples, and the Raman spectrometer performing qualitative and quantitative measurement of compounds separated by the LC.
Conventional Raman spectrometers have been limited to qualitative and quantitative measurement of components in the range of several hundreds of ppm, but by using an LC to separate components and by spotting samples on a plate and then concentrating to dryness, the companies aim to detect trace components at one ppm or below. The companies will also jointly develop integrated software for LC-Raman systems that allow seamless operation from sample introduction to analysis.
Prof. Haruko Takeyama of the School of Advanced Science and Engineering at Waseda University will also play a role, with the three parties planning to collaborate in the joint development of applications.
