Shimadzu Preparative and Purifcation Liquid Chromatograph - Nexera Prep

Importance of the Topic

Preparative liquid chromatography (PLC) plays a crucial role in isolating and purifying target compounds at scales ranging from milligram to multi‐gram quantities. High‐purity separation is essential in pharmaceutical development, natural product research, and industrial analytics. Modern PLC systems integrate automation, scalable column formats, and multi‐detector triggering to improve throughput, reproducibility, and cost efficiency.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note introduces the Nexera Prep family of preparative and purification liquid chromatographs, focusing on workflow streamlining, method development, and post‐purification processes. Key objectives include automating scale-up from analytical to preparative conditions, enhancing fractionation accuracy, reducing manual labor, and enabling high‐purity recovery even for non‐UV‐absorbing analytes.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

Preparative parameters are optimized using LabSolutions MD software for automated column and mobile phase screening, AI‐driven gradient optimization, and method transfer functions. The Nexera UFPLC system employs trap enrichment columns for on‐line desalting, concentration, and organic solvent elution to minimize evaporation time. Multiple detectors (UV, PDA, RID, ELSD, and LCMS‐2050) can serve as fractionation triggers, with flow splitters directing a minor stream to MS. Recycling separation modules enable repeated sample cycling through short columns to achieve high resolution at low cost.

Key instrumentation:

• Nexera Prep purification systems (LC‐40D, LC‐20AR, LC‐20AP)
• Nexera UFPLC Ultra Fast Preparative LC
• LabSolutions MD and Open Solution software
• LH-40 autosampler/fraction collector and FRC-40/FRC-10A fraction collectors
• Shim-pack Scepter preparative columns (C18, C8, phenyl, PFPP)
• Detectors: SPD-M40 PDA, SPD-40 UV, RID-20A, ELSD-LT III, LCMS-2050
• Flow control: FCV series valves and deleasers (DGU-403, DGU-405, DGU-10B)

Main Results and Discussion

Automatic fractionation modes (peak recognition, time-specified, manual) and a peak sensitivity algorithm reduce setup time and prevent noise‐induced errors. Overlaid simulation of multi-detector triggers ensures proper fraction selection. UFPLC trap columns removed non‐volatile salts (eg ammonium chloroacetate) and concentrated ibuprofen, cutting evaporation time by over 50 %. AI‐guided gradient searches achieved target resolution in minutes vs hours manually. Recycling separation yielded a resolution above 4.0 after seven cycles using a 20 mm × 250 mm column.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Automated scale‐up from analytical to prep scales simplifies method transfer
• Multi‐detector triggering ensures recovery of UV‐silent or coeluting species
• Trap enrichment and desalting accelerate downstream processing
• Stacked injections and networked multi‐user software improve throughput
• Recycling separation enables high resolution on short columns

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances in AI and machine learning will further automate method optimization and reduce reliance on expert intervention. Expanded integration of preparative LC with real‐time analytics and robotics could support continuous manufacturing. Future developments may include greener mobile phases, higher‐capacity trap columns, and cloud-based data management for global collaborative workflows.

Conclusion

The Nexera Prep platform, combining flexible solvent delivery, advanced software, multi‐detector triggering, and trap-based UFPLC, offers a comprehensive solution for modern preparative chromatography. Automation of scale-up, fractionation, and post-processing tasks yields substantial time and labor savings while maintaining high purity and yield across diverse sample types.

References

No standard literature references were provided in the source document.