January 11, 2019 | News & Notices Shimadzu’s New Preparative Purification LC System Provides High Efficiency, Saves Space, and Enables Multi-Sample Processing
Nexera Prep Purification LC System
LH-40 Liquid Handler
FRC-40 Fraction Collector
Shimadzu Corporation announces the release of its Nexera Prep Series Preparative Purification Liquid Chromatograph (LC). “Preparative work” is a process in which specific substances are separated and purified from samples. This process is essential for extracting target compounds and impurities during drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry and extracting functional components in the chemical and food industries. This product will dramatically improve productivity via efficient preparative work using LC or an LCMS (liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer) and flexible scalability.
The Nexera Prep Series Purification LC consists of multiple related products with the LC units as the core. Users select a pump, autosampler, and detector to build a system according to the purpose of the preparative work. Systems can be configured using related products such as the LH-40 Liquid Handler, FRC-40 Fraction Collector, Shim-pack Scepter LC Column for Analysis and Preparative Work, and Column Hub.
Preparative purification is generally performed according to the following workflow.
| (1) | Select the size of the preparative column based on the purification amount or injection volume and determine the system configuration |
| (2) | Select the fraction collector and container size according to the purpose |
| (3) | Investigate separation conditions at the analysis scale |
| (4) | Optimize the preparative work conditions |
| (5) | Check the purity |
This series of operations requires extensive knowledge and time. Furthermore, there are cases in which salts need to be removed or solutions need to be dried after purification, which places a burden on operators.
The Nexera Prep Series reduces the time spent on examining conditions using the software’s simulation function. It also enables simplified, fast operation to transition from analysis to preparative work due to column variations covering a wide range of sizes. Further, Shimadzu’s unique UFPLC high-purity purification system reduces the time required for powderization via the elution of desalted target components with an organic solvent. This product satisfies a number of users’ demands, such as efficient desalting and powderization, multi-sample and multi-fraction analysis, effective separation at a low cost, and the ability to check the purity. Specifically, the product can be used for the following purposes.
- Concentration and high-purity purification of immunosuppressive agents
- Preparative work for impurities in degradants of medicinal agents
- Separation and purification of functional components from natural materials
- Consecutive analysis to separate and purify polymers and their additives and check the purity
Features
1. Reduces the time required for investigating conditions to 1/4
With the preparative work simulation function of LabSolutions analysis software and the Shim-pack Scepter LC column for analysis and preparative work, which offers excellent scalability*, the product reduces the time required for investigating preparative work conditions to approximately 1/4. The LH-40 Liquid Handler can be used as both a fraction collector and an autosampler for large-value injection with the liquid surface detection function (option). It also enables seamless purity checks through re-injection (option) of fractions after fractionation. Additional functions, including a sample rescue function to collect the sample from the system if an error occurs after an injection, a function to automatically extract the target peaks only, and high-purity preparative purification using detector signals for up to four channels, enable more efficient operations.
| * | A feature to acquire the same chromatogram (wave-shaped graph that indicates analysis results) from columns of all sizes |
2. UFPLC high-purity purification system
Samples must be in a state of concentrated solution or dry powder to analyze their structure or store them. When a solution contains water, it takes time to dry and concentrate it. When salt such as trifluoroacetate has been added, it remains in the crystal of the compound, lowering the purity and negatively influencing pharmacokinetic studies and other testing. Shimadzu’s unique high-purity purification system called UFPLC introduces solutions containing the target compound separated in a preparative column into a trap column. Furthermore, salt and water are removed from the fractionated solution by washing off salt and inducing elution with an organic solvent. This reduces the time required for drying to 1/16 of the conventional way, providing compounds with a high level of purity.
3. Flexible system scalability
Both the LH-40 and FRC-40 are designed to save installation space, requiring only half the space compared to other vendors’ products. They support containers of a form and size suitable for the recovered quantity. Up to six units can be connected so up to 3240 10 mm diameter test tubes can be placed. Using the new Column Hub, up to six columns and four flow-line switching valves can be installed, enabling the compact configuration of various systems.
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Nexera Prep