BioCoool YC-2PLUS Chromatography Refrigerator

Overview

The BioCoool YC-2PLUS Chromatography Refrigerator is an engineered environmental control system specifically designed to maintain stable, low-temperature conditions essential for preparative and analytical chromatographic separations. Unlike standard laboratory refrigerators, the YC-2PLUS employs a precisely regulated air-circulation architecture optimized for thermal uniformity across large vertical workspaces—critical when operating high-flow, multi-column systems such as AKTA avant, AKTA pure, or NGC Quest platforms. Its 1–10°C operational range meets the ISO 15197 and CLSI EP07-A2 guidelines for cold-chain integrity during biomolecule purification, ensuring consistent elution profiles, minimized protease activity, and preserved ligand binding affinity in affinity chromatography. The cabinet’s height-constrained design (1960 mm total) enables seamless transit through standard doorways and freight elevators, while its 1500 mm internal height accommodates 1.5 m tall prepacked or custom-packed columns without disassembly.

Key Features

• Stable temperature control within ±3°C across full volume, achieved via a hermetically sealed refrigeration circuit with rear-mounted condenser fan—eliminating interior condensation and minimizing humidity-induced column bed instability.
• Full stainless-steel interior chamber and double-glazed, lockable tempered glass doors ensure corrosion resistance, visual process monitoring, and physical security in shared core facilities.
• Two adjustable stainless-steel column support rods and two open-frame heavy-duty shelves (605 × 525 mm) provide modular mounting for fraction collectors, peristaltic pumps, UV flow cells, and buffer reservoirs.
• Integrated LED task lighting and UV-C germicidal lamp support aseptic handling and routine cabinet sanitation—validated for ≥3-log reduction of common lab contaminants per ISO 15714.
• 7-inch industrial-grade capacitive touchscreen interface displays real-time temperature curves, setpoint history, alarm logs, and system status; supports user-defined parameter presets and password-protected configuration changes.
• USB data export functionality records timestamped temperature traces at 1-minute intervals for up to 30 days, enabling retrospective validation of thermal compliance during method transfer or regulatory audits.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The YC-2PLUS is routinely deployed in GMP-aligned bioprocessing labs for monoclonal antibody purification, plasmid DNA isolation, and viral vector downstream processing. Its temperature profile satisfies ASTM F2697-22 requirements for cold storage of chromatographic media and complies with ICH Q5C stability guidance for therapeutic protein intermediates. When paired with validated PC-based monitoring software, the unit supports 21 CFR Part 11 electronic record integrity—including user authentication, audit trail generation, and immutable data archiving. Optional RS-485 Modbus RTU integration allows centralized supervision via SCADA or LIMS platforms, facilitating alignment with ISO/IEC 17025 quality management systems.

Software & Data Management

Data acquisition and remote oversight are enabled through three interoperable layers: local touchscreen logging (with cyclic overwrite protection), USB mass-storage export (CSV-formatted time-series files compatible with Excel, MATLAB, and LabArchives), and optional networked monitoring. The PC client application provides configurable alarm thresholds, email/SMS alerting via SMTP gateway, and automated report generation aligned with FDA ERES expectations. Mobile access is implemented via TLS-secured web interface—no proprietary app required—allowing authorized personnel to verify cabinet status, adjust setpoints, and review trend history from iOS or Android devices anywhere with internet connectivity.

Applications

• Preparative protein purification using ion exchange, size exclusion, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography.
• Low-temperature storage of pH-sensitive resins (e.g., Capto™ series) and immobilized enzyme columns.
• Continuous operation of multi-step gradient systems requiring simultaneous cooling of mobile phase reservoirs, column ovens, and fraction collectors.
• Long-duration gel filtration runs (>48 h) where thermal drift would otherwise compromise resolution and recovery yield.
• Storage of clinical trial biosamples prior to QC testing under controlled ambient conditions per ISO 20387 biobanking standards.

FAQ

What is the maximum column height supported inside the YC-2PLUS cabinet?
The internal height is 1500 mm, permitting vertical installation of columns up to 1.5 meters in length without obstruction.
Does the unit meet international electrical safety standards?
Yes—the YC-2PLUS conforms to IEC 61010-1:2010 for laboratory equipment and carries CE marking for EMC and low-voltage directive compliance.
Can the sliding shelf be retrofitted to an existing YC-2PLUS unit?
Yes, the optional 565 × 560 mm sliding shelf (125 kg load rating) is field-installable using the factory-provided rail kit and mounting hardware.
Is temperature calibration traceable to NIST standards?
While the unit ships with factory calibration, users may perform in-house verification using NIST-traceable PT100 probes; documentation templates for calibration records are included in the user manual.
How is alarm notification handled during power interruption?
The embedded non-volatile memory retains alarm history for 72 hours post-power-loss; upon restoration, the system auto-resumes logging and triggers visual/audio alerts if out-of-spec conditions persist.