Sanotac ePilot-100 Preparative Liquid Chromatography System
| Brand | Sanotac |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shanghai, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) |
| Product Category | Domestic |
| Model | ePilot-100 |
| Application Level | Laboratory-Scale |
| Instrument Type | High-Pressure Preparative LC System |
| Flow Rate Range | 0.01–100.00 mL/min |
| Flow Accuracy | ±1% |
| Flow Precision (RSD) | ≤0.5% |
| Maximum Pressure | 20 MPa |
| Wavelength Range | 190–800 nm |
| Wavelength Accuracy | ±1 nm |
| Wavelength Repeatability | 0.2 nm |
| Baseline Noise | ±0.75×10⁻⁵ AU (254 nm, TC = 1 s) |
| Data Acquisition Rate | 10 Hz |
Overview
The Sanotac ePilot-100 Preparative Liquid Chromatography System is a high-pressure, modular preparative HPLC platform engineered for reproducible, scalable purification of complex mixtures across research and pilot-scale production environments. Based on high-precision dual-piston reciprocating pump architecture and real-time pressure feedback control, the system delivers stable solvent delivery under dynamic gradient conditions—critical for isolating thermolabile or structurally sensitive compounds such as natural products, synthetic intermediates, peptides, and monoclonal antibody fragments. Its design adheres to core principles of preparative chromatography: robust flow integrity across wide dynamic ranges (0.01–100 mL/min), minimal pulsation-induced baseline disturbance, and precise retention time alignment between analytical scouting and preparative runs. The system operates within a validated pressure envelope up to 20 MPa, supporting both stainless-steel and high-pressure glass columns (up to 50 mm ID), enabling method translation from analytical to semi-preparative and preparative scales without re-optimization.
Key Features
- Microprocessor-controlled dual-piston parallel pump with real-time chamber pressure feedback, compensating for solvent compressibility and refilling dynamics to ensure high flow accuracy (±1%) and repeatability (RSD ≤0.5%) across full flow range.
- Patented cam-profile flow pulsation compensation technology reduces baseline noise to ±0.75×10⁻⁵ AU (254 nm, 1 s time constant), enhancing detection sensitivity and fraction purity assessment.
- Multi-point volumetric flow calibration curves applied across the entire 0.01–100.00 mL/min range, ensuring traceable flow fidelity independent of backpressure or solvent viscosity.
- Floating plunger seal design extends high-pressure seal lifetime under continuous operation at ≥15 MPa, minimizing maintenance downtime and consumable cost.
- 10 user-defined method programs support fully programmable gradient profiles (linear, step, or custom), flow ramping, and wavelength switching—enabling automated multi-step purification sequences.
- Dual-wavelength UV-Vis detection (190–800 nm) with simultaneous dual-channel monitoring, wavelength-time programming, and stop-flow spectral scanning—providing orthogonal peak identification and impurity profiling without column re-injection.
- Intelligent lamp management automatically switches between deuterium and tungsten sources based on selected wavelength, maximizing lamp service life and optical stability.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The ePilot-100 accommodates diverse sample matrices including crude plant extracts, combinatorial synthesis libraries, fermentation broths, and recombinant protein eluates. Its modular fluidic architecture supports direct integration of 10 mL preparative injection valves, solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges, and in-line dilution modules. Column compatibility spans standard 10–50 mm ID stainless-steel columns and chemically resistant high-pressure glass columns—ideal for aggressive solvents (e.g., THF, DCM, TFA-containing mobile phases). All hardware and firmware comply with ISO 9001 manufacturing standards. The Sanochrom control software is designed and validated to meet FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements, including electronic signature enforcement, audit trail generation, role-based access control, and immutable data archiving—supporting GLP and GMP-aligned workflows in regulated laboratories.
Software & Data Management
Control and data acquisition are managed via Sanochrom Chromatography Workstation—a Windows 10–compatible application built on a deterministic real-time kernel. The interface provides synchronized control of pump, detector, and fraction collector through a unified graphical timeline view. Users define collection logic using composite triggers (time, UV threshold, slope, or peak apex), with configurable delay volume compensation to correct for system dwell volume and tubing dispersion effects. Real-time multi-wavelength signal overlay, peak tracking, and baseline correction algorithms enable immediate visual verification of fraction boundaries. All raw data (including pump pressure logs, detector voltage traces, and collector position timestamps) are stored in vendor-neutral .cdf format compliant with ASTM E1946-18. Audit trails record every parameter change, method execution, and user login event with timestamp, operator ID, and IP address—fully exportable for regulatory submission.
Applications
- Purification of bioactive natural products (e.g., flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids) from botanical extracts with minimal degradation.
- Isolation of chiral intermediates and enantiomerically enriched APIs following asymmetric synthesis.
- Desalting and buffer exchange of monoclonal antibodies and fusion proteins prior to formulation studies.
- Removal of residual catalysts, ligands, or protecting groups from transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.
- Scale-up of analytical methods developed on UHPLC systems—leveraging identical column chemistries and gradient kinetics for seamless transfer.
- Preparative isolation of oligonucleotide synthesis failure sequences for structural characterization.
FAQ
What column formats are supported by the ePilot-100?
The system is compatible with standard stainless-steel preparative columns (10–50 mm ID) and high-pressure borosilicate glass columns rated for ≤20 MPa. Optional PEEK-lined pump heads accommodate highly corrosive mobile phases.
Does the system support method transfer from analytical HPLC?
Yes—its linear flow rate scalability, consistent dwell volume (<1.2 mL), and identical UV detection optics enable direct translation of gradient methods from 4.6 mm ID analytical columns to 20–30 mm ID preparative columns using standard scaling equations.
How is data integrity ensured during long-duration purification runs?
Sanochrom software implements cyclic redundancy check (CRC)-protected data logging, automatic backup to secondary storage, and tamper-evident audit trail encryption—meeting ALCOA+ (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available) principles.
Can the fraction collector operate independently of the chromatography run?
Yes—the collector accepts external TTL or analog trigger inputs and supports manual mode, allowing offline fraction collection triggered by external detectors or process signals.
Is remote monitoring and control supported?
The system includes embedded Ethernet (TCP/IP) and USB 2.0 interfaces; remote desktop access and secure VPN-based operation are enabled via standard Windows Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) configurations.
