Unimicro EasySep-3220/3248 Medium- to Low-Pressure Preparative Liquid Chromatography System

Overview

The Unimicro EasySep-3220/3248 is a benchtop medium- to low-pressure preparative liquid chromatography system engineered for reproducible, scalable purification of organic compounds, natural products, pharmaceutical intermediates, and synthetic peptides in research and development laboratories. It operates on the principle of liquid-solid partition chromatography under controlled flow and pressure conditions, utilizing conventional silica- or polymer-based stationary phases with gradient or isocratic mobile phase delivery. Designed for operational simplicity without compromising analytical integrity, the system integrates a dual-piston reciprocating pump, UV-Vis absorbance detection (typically at 254 nm and 280 nm), fraction collection based on time or peak threshold triggers, and embedded control software—enabling full method execution from injection to fraction recovery within a single, compact architecture.

Key Features

• Integrated modular design: All core components—including high-precision dual-piston pump, variable-wavelength UV-Vis detector, programmable fraction collector, and touch-enabled controller—are housed in a unified chassis, minimizing footprint and interconnect complexity.
• Wide flow range capability: Adjustable flow rates from 0.1 mL/min to 200 mL/min support applications ranging from analytical-scale scouting runs to gram-level purification using columns up to 50 mm internal diameter.
• Robust pressure management: Rated for continuous operation up to 200 psi (13.8 bar), the system accommodates standard stainless-steel or PEEK-lined preparative columns packed with 5–25 µm particles, ensuring mechanical stability and column longevity.
• Real-time spectral monitoring: Detector provides baseline-stable absorbance readings with configurable wavelength selection, analog output, and digital signal transmission to facilitate synchronization with fraction collection events.
• Intuitive local interface: Built-in color touchscreen enables direct method setup, real-time chromatogram visualization, manual trigger control, and immediate review of collected fractions—reducing dependency on external PCs during routine operation.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The EasySep-3220/3248 is compatible with common reversed-phase (C18, C8), normal-phase (silica, amino), and ion-exchange media used in small-molecule and biomolecule purification workflows. It supports mobile phases including water/acetonitrile, water/methanol, hexane/isopropanol, and buffered aqueous systems (pH 2–8). While not certified for GMP production environments, the system meets general laboratory safety standards (IEC 61010-1) and supports documentation practices aligned with GLP principles—such as electronic logbook entries, method versioning, and audit-ready event timestamps. Data export formats (CSV, ASCII) are compatible with third-party LIMS and ELN platforms.

Software & Data Management

Control and data acquisition are managed via Unimicro’s proprietary EasyChrom software, installed on the integrated controller or optionally deployed on Windows-based workstations. The software supports method creation with multi-step gradient profiles, peak integration using tangent skim or valley-to-valley algorithms, retention time alignment across runs, and customizable fraction collection logic (e.g., peak apex, threshold crossing, or time window). All chromatographic data—including raw detector signals, pump pressure logs, and collection metadata—are stored with embedded timestamps and user-defined annotations. Export functions comply with FAIR data principles, generating machine-readable files suitable for regulatory submission preparation where applicable.

Applications

• Purification of synthetic organic compounds following combinatorial chemistry or medicinal chemistry campaigns.
• Isolation of active constituents from plant extracts, fermentation broths, or enzymatic reaction mixtures.
• Desalting and buffer exchange of peptides and oligonucleotides prior to MS analysis or biological assay.
• Method development and scouting for downstream high-pressure preparative HPLC or SFC scale-up.
• Teaching chromatographic theory and separation optimization in university analytical chemistry laboratories.

FAQ

What column dimensions and particle sizes are recommended for optimal performance?
Columns with internal diameters of 10–50 mm and packing materials sized 5–25 µm are routinely employed; smaller particles require lower flow rates to maintain pressure limits.
Can the system be operated without a PC connection?
Yes—the integrated touchscreen controller supports standalone operation for method loading, run initiation, and fraction collection.
Is the UV detector compliant with pharmacopeial requirements for peak purity assessment?
While not validated per USP or EP 2.2.46, the detector delivers sufficient linearity (R² > 0.999) and noise performance (< ±0.5 mAU) for qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis in R&D settings.
Does the system support automated fraction re-injection?
No—fraction re-injection requires manual transfer to the sample loop; however, collected fractions can be logged and tracked via sample ID tagging in the software.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for the pump and detector?
Pump seals should be inspected every 500 hours of operation; detector lamp lifetime is typically 1,000–2,000 hours depending on usage intensity and warm-up cycles.