2998 Photodiode Array (PDA) Detector

The Waters 2998 Photodiode Array (PDA) Detector represents the pinnacle of chromatographic sensitivity and spectral resolution in photodiode array detection, seamlessly integrating with LC and LC-MS systems to elevate your analytical capabilities. Engineered to maintain high sensitivity and an expansive linear dynamic range, this detector facilitates the addition of spectral conformation to absorbance detection tasks without compromise. Its advanced optical and software innovations deliver exceptional noise specification as low as 10 μAU and operate at a fixed optical resolution of 1.2 nm, ensuring high-quality spectral resolution and the ability to distinguish between closely related compounds with precision.

Designed for versatility, the 2998 PDA Detector offers more than 4.5 orders of linear dynamic range, enabling the simultaneous quantification of high- and low-level components within a single chromatographic separation. This feature, coupled with the ability to optimize detector sensitivity and spectral resolution through digital resolution adjustments, makes it an ideal tool for a wide array of lab applications, from compound identification to method development.

Enhanced software control provides flexibility for simultaneous 2D and 3D operation with either Empower or MassLynx Software, ensuring ease of use and reliability for routine analyses. The detector's compatibility with powerful software capabilities for determining spectral homogeneity boosts confidence in method specificity. With a user-friendly interface for setup, status monitoring, and diagnostics, the 2998 PDA Detector is the optimal choice for laboratories seeking to enhance their analytical precision and efficiency.

2998 Photodiode Array (PDA) Detector FAQs

What is a photodiode array (PDA) detector and how does it work?
A photodiode array (PDA) detector simultaneously monitors absorbance across a wide range of wavelengths, allowing full spectral acquisition for each eluting compound. In the Waters 2998 PDA Detector, light passes through the flow cell and is dispersed by a diffraction grating onto an array of photodiodes. Each diode detects a specific wavelength, enabling the capture of complete UV-visible spectra in real-time. This capability supports peak identification, purity analysis, and method development, making PDA detection especially valuable for complex or multi-component samples.

What is the wavelength range of the 2998 PDA Detector?
The Waters 2998 PDA Detector covers a spectral range of 190 to 800 nm, suitable for most UV and visible analytes. It offers wavelength accuracy of ±1 nm, verified using a patented Erbium filter, and wavelength repeatability of ±0.1 nm. This precision allows for reliable spectral comparison, peak purity assessment, and quantification across a broad range of compounds. The detector’s ability to capture full spectra without switching filters or detectors enhances analytical flexibility and data richness, particularly in method development or unknown identification.

What types of compounds can be analyzed using the 2998 PDA Detector?
The 2998 PDA Detector is well-suited for compounds that absorb in the UV or visible range, including pharmaceuticals, biomolecules, natural products, polymers, and food additives. Its broad wavelength coverage enables the detection of both highly conjugated systems and lower-absorbing analytes. It is commonly used in quality control, method development, and stability studies where spectral data is essential. Because it captures full spectra, the 2998 can help identify co-eluting peaks and assess spectral purity, making it especially valuable in complex mixture analysis or when confirmatory identification is required.