Agela CHEETAH® MP200 Medium-Pressure Preparative Liquid Chromatography System

Overview

The Agela CHEETAH® MP200 is a medium-pressure preparative liquid chromatography (PLC) system engineered for robust, reproducible, and scalable purification of organic compounds, natural products, pharmaceutical intermediates, and synthetic peptides in research and development laboratories. Based on classical flash chromatography principles—employing gradient or isocratic elution with silica- or reversed-phase-packed columns—the MP200 operates within a pressure range up to 200 psi (13.8 bar), balancing column efficiency, solvent compatibility, and operational safety. Unlike analytical HPLC systems, the MP200 prioritizes sample loading capacity (compatible with 4–800 g Flash columns and glass columns up to 50 mm ID), fraction recovery fidelity, and seamless integration with downstream detection and collection workflows. Its architecture reflects decades of field experience in purification science, emphasizing mechanical reliability, electrical isolation, and intuitive real-time control—making it a technically grounded alternative to manual column chromatography without compromising method transferability or regulatory traceability.

Key Features

• 12.1-inch capacitive touchscreen interface with responsive GUI for method setup, real-time monitoring, and interactive gradient editing—including drag-to-adjust functionality for on-the-fly gradient profile modification.
• Dual-wavelength UV/Vis detector enabling simultaneous monitoring at two independent wavelengths; supports concurrent triggering of fraction collection based on either or both signals—critical for co-eluting impurities or multi-target isolation.
• Intelligent fraction collector with fully customizable tube mapping: accepts standard racks (13/15/18/25 mm tubes), Erlenmeyer flasks, round-bottom flasks, and custom containers; supports infinite-loop collection cycles and single-tube volumes up to several liters.
• Leak detection and pressure monitoring subsystems: automatic pause-on-leak event with visual alert; real-time pressure feedback with configurable upper-limit alarm to prevent column rupture or pump damage.
• Electrically isolated fluidic module design—separating high-voltage electronics from solvent pathways—to mitigate corrosion risk and ensure long-term stability in aggressive mobile phases (e.g., THF, DCM, hexane, methanol).
• Modular expandability: native support for third-party detectors (ELSD, RI, MS) via analog/digital signal input; optional automated sample injector (Rheodyne 3725i-based) and column switcher for unattended sequential column screening or multi-step purification protocols.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The CHEETAH® MP200 accommodates broad stationary phase diversity: silica, alumina, diol, amino, cyano, C18, C8, and phenyl-hexyl columns (ID 4.6–50 mm for HP variants; glass and prepacked Flash columns 4–800 g for MP200). It supports both normal-phase (hexane/EtOAc, DCM/MeOH) and reversed-phase (water/acetonitrile, water/methanol) elution schemes. All wetted materials—including pump heads, check valves, and flow cells—are chemically resistant to common organic solvents and aqueous buffers. While not certified to ISO/IEC 17025 or FDA 21 CFR Part 11 out-of-the-box, the system’s software logs all method parameters, collection events, and detector outputs with timestamped metadata—enabling retrospective audit trails consistent with GLP-compliant documentation practices. Exportable CSV and PDF reports meet basic data integrity requirements for internal R&D validation.

Software & Data Management

CHEETAH® Control Software v3.x provides full instrument orchestration: method creation, real-time chromatogram visualization, peak-to-tube mapping, and conditional fraction collection logic (full, peak, window, slope-triggered, or manual override). During active runs, users may modify flow rate, gradient slope, or collection criteria without interrupting separation. The software stores raw absorbance traces, method files, and collection logs locally; batch export to PDF or CSV is supported. Detector signal synchronization ensures precise alignment between UV response and fraction positioning—minimizing carryover misassignment. No cloud dependency or subscription model: all data remains under user control on local storage.

Applications

The MP200 serves synthetic chemistry labs requiring rapid isolation of reaction mixtures (e.g., Suzuki couplings, amide bond formations); natural product groups fractionating crude plant extracts; medicinal chemistry units purifying lead compound libraries; and QC departments validating reference standards prior to analytical assay development. Its high-flow capability (up to 200 mL/min) enables gram-scale purification in under 30 minutes when paired with optimized column geometry and solvent strength. Method scalability from analytical to preparative dimensions is facilitated by retention time consistency across Agela’s unified column portfolio—reducing method re-development effort.

FAQ

What column formats are compatible with the MP200?
The system supports standard Flash cartridges (4–800 g), custom-packed glass columns (up to 50 mm ID), and stainless-steel preparative columns (4.6–30 mm ID). Both Agela-branded and third-party columns—including silica, C18, and amino phases—are mechanically and chemically compatible.
Can the MP200 be integrated with mass spectrometry?
Yes—via analog voltage output from the UV detector or direct TTL/RS232 trigger signals, the system synchronizes fraction collection with external MS acquisition windows. No proprietary interface hardware is required.
Is gradient accuracy validated across the full flow range?
Flow accuracy is specified at ±2% across 1–200 mL/min, verified using gravimetric calibration per ASTM D3427. Multi-point flow correction curves are applied in firmware to maintain linearity and minimize pulsation-induced baseline disturbance.
Does the software support electronic signatures or audit trails for regulated environments?
While the base software does not include 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic signature modules, all method changes, run logs, and collection metadata are immutably timestamped and exportable—providing foundational elements for internally governed QA/QC documentation frameworks.
How is system cleaning managed between runs?
The MP200 includes programmable wash routines for pump heads, injector loops, and detector flow cells. Users define solvent sequences, dwell times, and flow rates—enabling automated post-run flushing with high-boiling or viscous solvents (e.g., DMF, DMSO) followed by low-viscosity carriers (e.g., MeOH, ACN).