Control software PrepCon version 5

As a preparative data acquisition and control system, PrepCon meets all the demands required for a modern preparative chromatography program. Due to its high flexibility and modular structure, the program can be adapted to any user’s system. As a further development of the previous versions of the program, the most obvious features of  PrepCon 5 are ease of use and improved method set up. All the advantages of networks can be used. National and international regulations, such as 21 CFR Part 11, are fully supported.

The universally suitable Windows program PrepCon 5 can be used to control pumps, motorised switching valves, autosamplers, detectors and fraction collectors in any combination. Its new data recording module allows parallel tracking of up to 8 analogue signals, for example UV, pressure, temperature, pH value, conductivity, etc. Alternatively DAD signals can be recorded for system control. The system visualisation feature allows checking of the current status of the system at any time.

Features

• Control of two pump units (8 channels),  for isocratic, binary, ternary or quaternary elution with either high pressure or low pressure mixing
• Control of 20 different valves (motor valves, blocks of solenoid valves)
• Supervision of the system’s pressure
• System visualisation with implementation of different interactive switches and status displays of the system components
• Data acquisition from up to eight different (A/D) sources to control and supervise the systems function
• Fully automated fraction collection by signal height and/or signal slope or on a calculated basis from different signals
• Fraction annotation, graphical traceability of fractions from the chromatogram, repetitive separations with supervision of the reproducibility
• Solvent volume control on a calculation basis
• User administration, 21CFR-11 conformity

The main window
A comfortable user interface enables a rapid overview of the module. Function buttons simplify the menu accesses.
 

The main window displays the system status. The user can personalise the display and the layout of the function buttons.
The main window contains the most important functions and modules in the form of function buttons. These buttons or the system visualisation can be used to control the system manually.
GLP compliance is guaranteed by the use of the user administration feature with up to four password protected user levels. Device specific code words for the system can be defined in the set up.


Setting up a method
A time control editor allows programming of all available time or volume dependent functions. The presentation of the time controlled parameters, in particular the gradient development, in graphic form, increases the clarity of the method and avoids possible mistakes.

The accompanying graphic presentation can display up to 9 data channels, on which the individual functions can be shifted and included in the method. This enables the user to simply modify a method from a recently recorded chromatogram. The layout and colour of the graphic presentation display can easily be customised by the user.


Visualisation
Both the system configuration and the time control files, which have been programmed and loaded, can be allocated to each data channel. Changes made to the current time control file from the graphic representation in one of the recording windows can be saved directly in the method. This allows a user to change the current course of the time control files at any time.


The interactive solvent monitoring is also shown in graphic form in the solvent supply window. This allows prevention of the system from running dry if the correspondingly set threshold values are exceeded. The current solvent content can also be set in the visualisation.



Threshold
The threshold function can control all devices in the system which depends on a detector signal (peak height) or a switch input. For example, if the temperature in the column increases dramatically, a corresponding eluent cooler can be switched on and switched off again at a given threshold value.

Peak sampling
The peak sampling activates fraction collection based upon signal slope. It can be set up separately for each peak window. During a run the data source can be changed as often as required. Up to eight different detector signals can be used with this function.
Provision has been made for different peak situations such as peak start, valley, shoulder and peak end to be employed.
The peak sampling visualisation displays all recognised peak situations in graphical form.
All elements of the system, such as program elements, motor switch valves and fraction racks, are supported by the control system.
To avoid overflow of fraction vessels a fraction limit, based on time or volume, can be set up.

User-defined channel
This module allows different data sources to be combined by mathematical processing of the signals.

Autosampler table
In addition to the individual injection parameters and sample position in the autosampler, each sample can be linked to a certain method. This enables the user to run automatically different methods in a sequence. Autosampler tables can be edited and reviewed during a run. This allows prioritising important separations without cancelling the complete sequence.

Fraction rack module
This module allows a full integration of the fraction rack into the system. Different rack types and movement schemes can be defined in the set-up by creating a simple x/y pattern or even by “teaching in” a current collector position.
In the graphic display, a direct relationship between the individual fractions and the corresponding peaks can be seen. Clarity is guaranteed particularly for high capacity fraction racks.

Data recording
Various A/D converters are available to track the raw data, and these can be combined in many ways. The system can be extended to eight independent signal inputs.
Data recording allows an unlimited number of data points per chromatogram. The choice of parameters is selected within the time control set up.

Integration
Reliable integration parameters guarantee rapid and accurate calculations.
The processing possibilities have been specially adapted for preparative chromatography.
The software allows annotation of chromatograms with fraction markings and/or individual remarks.

Results data
All relevant data is summarised in a results file:
method documentation, time control files, autosampler tables, chromatograms, fraction ordering tables and run protocols.
A previously used method can be recalled from an archived result file.