Prince Technologies has developed from a small company that focused solely on the development, manufacturing and sales of capillary electrophoresis products, to a company offering tailor-made solutions. Within the last decade they have sold over 700 units worldwide.
Prince Technologies systems utilise Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE) and Capillary Electro Chromatography (CEC), a powerful separation technique which brings versatility, speed and high resolution to the combined fields of electrophoresis and chromatography.
The PrinCE Systems are modular in design enabling easy connection to any existing detector techniques (i.e. UV-VIS, DAD, LIF, Fluorescence, Conductivity, MS) as well as implementation of future hardware developments such as specific CE detectors, CE-MS interfaces, sample preparation devices and fibre optics technology. With PrinCE you are guaranteed flexibility and upgradeability to future needs without outdating existing equipment.
Their products include:
PrinCE 200 SERIES
The PrinCE 250
and the PrinCE-C 255 are basic capillary electrophoresis units that can be
compared in some extent to GC and HPLC systems without an auto-sampler. The
PrinCE 250 and the PrinCE-C 255 are fully automated and can handle up to three
samples without operator interference, while still maintaining one buffer vial.
The PrinCE-C 255 offers
the extra possibility of external pressure up to 10 bars. Both
PrinCE systems can be used in combination with an MS detector or as tool in
several fields of scientific research. No
more than three types of buffer/washing solutions can be used automatically per
method. The PrinCE 250 and the PrinCE-C 255 do not offer the possibility
of sample and buffer cooling. Analysis normally take less than an hour
for a maximum number of samples (3).
PrinCE 400 SERIES
The PrinCE 450
and 460 are the routine analyser capillary electrophoresis units. These PrinCE
systems are used as a supportive tool for other motives. Both PrinCE systems are
fully automated and can handle up to 32 (or optional 40) samples without
operator interference, while still maintaining 10 (or optional 5) buffer vials.
The PrinCE 460 offers the extra possibility of sample and buffer cooling.
These
PrinCE systems are delivered standard with 10 buffer positions. Optionally, one buffer segment can
be replaced by a sample segment, resulting in a sample capacity of 40. Any
combination of six segments (sample/buffer type) can be used. The segments can
be easily exchanged without any tools. The possible segments are 5 positions for
buffers and 8 positions for samples.
PrinCE 500 SERIES
The PrinCE 550
and 560 are one of the most flexible capillary electrophoresis units featuring a
second buffer lift. This second lift is used to allow the change of outlet
buffers or both lifts can serve as the one used for injection. Because of the dual lift
approach, the PrinCE 550 and 560 are the most versatile without external
pressure possibilities. It is ideally suited for method development and routine
analysis by one or multiple methods. The PrinCE 560 offers the
possibility of sample and buffer cooling. Both
systems are fully automated and can handle up to 32 (or optional 40) samples
without interference of the operator, while still maintaining 10 (or optional 5)
buffer vials. These systems are delivered standard with 10 buffer positions. Optionally
one buffer
segment can be replaced by a sample segment, resulting in a sample capacity of
40. Any combination of six segments (sample/buffer type) can be used. The
segments can be easily exchanged without any tools. The possible segments are 5
positions for buffers and 8 positions for samples.
PrinCE 600 SERIES
The
PrinCE-C 650 and 660 also feature the second buffer lift. This second lift is
used to allow the change of outlet buffers or both lifts can serve as
the one used for injection.
The PrinCE-C 660 offers the possibility of sample and buffer cooling. The
PrinCE systems are fully automated and can handle up to 32 (or optional 40)
samples without interference of the operator, while still maintaining 10 (or
optional 5) buffer vials. These systems are delivered standard with 10 buffer
positions. As an option
one buffer segment can be replaced by a sample segment, resulting in a sample
capacity of 40. Any combination of six segments (sample/buffer type) can be
used. The segments can be easily exchanged without any tools. The possible
segments are 5 positions for buffers or 8 positions for samples. The
PrinCE- C 600 is the successor of the PrinCE 500 series. New features include an
inlet and outlet device that has been reduced by 5cm, which results in a
minimum capillary length reduction of 10 cm on the dual lift system.
Additionally high pressure up to 10 bar by gas pressure at one or both capillary
ends allows CEC and faster rinsing with buffers of high viscosity.
PrinCE 700 SERIES
The PrinCE 700
series is a powerful integrated Capillary Electro Chromatography system with a
very sensitive Diode Array Detector (DAD). It is fully automated, flexible,
modular and suitable for almost any application. It is also easy to couple
to any external CE detector or to MS. The
integrated systems can handle up to 32 samples without interference of the
operator, while still maintaining 10 buffer vials. Any combination of six
segments (sample/buffer type) can be used. The segments can be easily exchanged
without any tools. The possible segments are 5 positions for buffers or 8
positions for samples. Features
of the integrated PrinCE 700 include short effective capillary length of
7.5 cm; with total minimum capillary length of 33 cm; hardware selectable inlet
and outlet for short or long effective capillary length; complete capillary
temperature control; capillary cassette; three types of possible DAD (256, 512
or 1024 diodes); UV/VIS and NIR measurements; 3D analysis software (including
high resolution spectra, spectra library search, peak purity calculations, peak
identification) and low limit of detection. An optional external fibre cell
allows selection between the standard internal fibre cell or an optional remote
fibre cell. This remote fibre cell is fully automated and is ideal in
combination with a Mass Spectrometer (MS) because the sample can be measured
very closely to the used MS.
HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY
(HVPS):
This versatile polarity-switching High Voltage Power Supply is designed to
combine with the PrinCE Injector/ Autosampler of your choice. The
PrinCE-HVPS enables voltage or current profiles to be programmed and accurately
controlled. The fast polarity switching feature, either pre-programmed or
activated during injection or run situations, provides fast and efficient
separations.
AUTOSAMPLER
AND FRACTION COLLECTOR:
The modular system design allows the PrinCE to be configured to individual
needs. Options include a 4-position sample tray or a random access carrousel
with accommodation for 30-48 sample/buffer vials. Peltier control of temperature
protects samples from evaporation and degeneration. When a two lift system
is used, fraction collection can be performed. For the outlet, a number of
sample positions are used in sequence . Each fraction will be available in
this sample position. A small amount of buffer is required for electrical
conductivity between the electrode and capillary end. By programming the
different positions, the fraction collection works fully automated.
AUTOMATED
SAMPLE INJECTION SYSTEM:
The programmable and automated injection system generates highly accurate sample injection
quantities using the patented Dynamic Compression Injection (DCI) principle.
This allows positive and negative injection pressures to be controlled,
programmed and applied without the use of external sources and valves.
Controlled
pressure/voltage ramping gives unsurpassed accuracy and linearity with injection
volumes down to 1nl. The
PrinCE automated injection system also offers capillary temperature control
using recycling airflow. Thermostatically regulated by Peltier elements,
an environment is provided virtually independent of outside temperature
fluctuations.
UV-VIS DETECTION:
UV absorbance
detection is the most popular form of detection as more than 50 % of all CE
systems are equipped with UV absorbance detectors. UV-VIS detectors are simple
to use and almost any compound can be detected by UV absorbance, either direct
or indirect. Typical limits of detection are 1 to 10 µM for compounds that show
considerable absorbance at at least one wavelength. Out
of many UV-VIS detectors that are used in combination with PrinCE, Prince
Technologies offers of of the most sensitive detectors, the Bischoff Lamblda
1010 UV-VIS detector. Some features include deuterium lamp wavelength range of
190 - 400nm (optional halogen lamp from 400 - 800nm), optical bandwidth of 6nm,
wavelength accuracy of 2nm, wavelength reproducibility of 0.2nm, variable time
constants (0.02s, 0.1s, 0.5s, 1s and 2s) and external control via RS232.
FLUORESCENCE
DETECTION:
Fluorescence
detection should be considered if concentrations are too low. It can also be a
powerful method of detection if a fluorescent sample cannot be separated well
enough from a UV absorbing sample matrix. The
Argos enhances detection 10 fold compared to UV detection by using a special
lamp that has a continuum spectrum in the UV-VIS range. Included are four
wavelengths with a very high intensity and if used as the excitation light beam,
the best limits of detection can be expected. A special CE cell developed
by Flux Instruments ensures a very high gain of fluorescence light that is
generated inside the capillary, due to the excitation light beam. The result is
the creation of a more sensitive conventional fluorescence detector. The
excitation wavelength range is from 240 - 400nm.
DIODE ARRAY DETECTION:
Photo diode
array detection (PDA) can add a lot of useful information to the
electropherogram by creating spectra during the runs. This spectrum can be used
to identify the peak, provided that a spectrum is available in the spectrum
library. It is also very useful as a tool to determine peak purity. The spectrum
can also be used to determine the optimal wavelength for the detection within
one run. Like all PDA detectors, the PrinCE 100 and 700 series data are
processed with special data acquisition software DAx-3D. Depending on the
PrinCE system utilised, the number of diodes range from 256 to 1024 and the
wavelength ranges are from 190nm - 1010nm.
MASS SPECTROMETER:
The
coupling of CE-MS gives the highest separation efficiency of CE, with molecular
weight and structural information of the MS. PrinCE
can be coupled easily to virtually any MS system that is suitable for CE. The
capillary can leave the PrinCE without any modification to the system. Prince
Technologies can offer a system that is adapted to the needs of the MS. To allow
the shortest possible capillary length, the HVPS can be positioned at the right,
the left or even at the back, if necessary. The
pressure device allows precise control of the actual flow from the CE capillary,
adjusted to the needs of the MS system.
LASER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE:
Laser Induced
Fluorescence detectors are the most powerful as the Lasers are typically capable
of emitting light of a very well defined wavelength with an intensity of 1-10 mW.
Thus the maximal possible number of molecules can be excited, resulting in the
best possible limits of detection. For fluorescent compounds, concentration
limits of detection down to 10-12 mol/l have been reported. Bearing
in mind that typically about 10 nl of sample is injected, this equals about 10-20
mol! These low numbers are not generally achieved because there are only limited
number highly fluorescent compounds. Nonetheless LIF detection can be more
sensitive than any other commercially available detector, even if the compound
is not fluorescent itself.
CONDUCTIVITY DETECTION:
The TraceDec
contactless conductivity detector is based on two metal electrodes placed around
the separation capillary, which can be of any non-conducting material (e.g.
fused silica, PEEK, Teflon). After an AC voltage is applied to the actuator
electrode, the current passes the capillary wall and the detection gap between
the electrodes inside the capillary and back to the pick-up electrode. Signal is
then further amplified and processed. This detector can be coupled to any PrinCE
system without using any tools. The detector is supplied with a CE-cell and is completely maintenance free. The detection limit is 10 - 40ppb with
indirect injection.
WINPRINCE:
WinPrinCE
allows full control of the PrinCE Capillary Electrophoresis System via computer
and is supplied standard with all PrinCE systems. Manual
control parameters can all be accessed from the WinPrinCE main screen with a
single mouse click for ease of use. Control parameters include inlet and outlet
vial selection; capillary pressure; voltage or current settings; system control
limits; detector control; oven temperature and sample tray temperature. Access
to stored methods, editing of existing methods and creation of new methods are
available from the run information box. This box also contains the run list and
Start/Stop control for a constructed run sequence. WinPrinCE allows users to
program and save complete sets of method parameters. Up to 30 methods can be
stored with 99 runs available. Methods allow timed functions of external as well
as internal system events. Voltage or current ramping can be included for
optimum results and reproducibility.
DAx:
DAx
takes care of Data Acquisition and Data Analysis. DAx's Data Acquisition
qualifications include support of different brands of AD/DA cards and hardware;
multi channel data acquisition; hierarchical measurement linking; measurement
sequence lists for use with automatic sample changers; automatic analysis and various
measurement triggering methods. DAx's
Data Acquisition uses the information in the WinPrinCE WorkList to acquire and
analyse the data generated from each sample run. The package contains many
CE-specific data handling parameters such as mobility values and mobility
correction. Data analysis features include data manipulation; baselines
and peaks; component identification; quantification; multichannel data
acquisition and GLP conformance.
DAx-3D:
DAx-3D is a
version of DAx Data Acquisition and Data Analysis software that has been adapted
for use with a Diode Array Spectrometer Detector (DAD). Use of a DAD allows the
identification of components in samples based on their spectrum shape. DAx-3D
will use a Spectral Library to store and retrieve component spectra.
For more information on Prince Technologies please visit their website at www.princetechnologies.com