Complete Product Description

The GE ÄKTA Pilot System, for when you want buckets of protein!

The ÄKTApilot is a dedicated automated liquid chromatography system designed for process development, process scale-up, and production. The system has the capacity to purify from milligrams to tens of grams of product and is bio-compatible, hygienic and sanitizable.

Q: Why is this unit the 'gold standard' ?

A: Because ÄKTApilot meets all good laboratory practice (GLP) and current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) demands for Phase I–III in drug development and final-scale production.

A new system retails for approximately $135,000 from GE Life Sciences, but from GMI you can buy a tested re-certified system for much less.

ÄKTApilot is a complete system and contains all the fluid handling components required to perform fluent delivery and mixing, sample application, and in-line monitoring. All the control and mechanical components are located inside an easily cleaned cabinet.

The flow path consists of two sets of four inlets on the main pump and four inlets on the sample pump. The latter has the same capacity as the system pump, 400 ml/min. The in-line mixer ensures high accuracy of the high-pressure gradient.

The air trap is connected in parallel for easy actuation. It is possible to use two columns in series or one column at a time. Pressure is monitored at four points and it is possible to pressure regulate the flow rate for convenient sample application and column packing. Monitoring of conductivity, UV and pH are all displayed in UNICORN and extra monitors can be connected to the system for special purposes.

Fractionation is performed either by the standard setup of eight outlet valves or by adding external valve blocks.

A fraction collector is typically not supplied as most chromatographers simply collect their fractions into sterile 'buckets' !

ÄKTApilot is equipped with sanitarily designed sensors for continuous in-line measurement of pH, conductivity and UV absorbance. The detectors provide accurate and reliable monitoring through self-test and self-calibration. The flow cells are placed close together, which minimizes band broadening and time delay between the detectors. The flow cells are easily accessible from the front panel to facilitate maintenance.

The UV cell can measure up to three wavelengths simultaneously, in the range 190–700 nm, via fiber optics. The pH electrode is mounted in the pH fl ow cell after pressure sensor 4 in the fl ow path. The pH monitor measures in the range 2–12. The conductivity cell is placed after the pH electrode in the fl ow path. It is used to verify gradients, follow peak positions relative to ionic strength and measure temperature via a built-in sensor.