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Separation Center Services

For decades, SiliCycle has been dedicated to silica gel manufacturing and has built a strong skilled team in this field. You can now benefit from years of experience in chromatography, purification and method development.

Our expertise covers a wide spectrum of applications on various purification scales.

  • Compound Extraction & Sample Preparation
  • Purity Determination
  • Impurity Isolation & Structure Elucidation
  • Preparative Liquid Chromatography (low / medium / high pressure)
  • Method Scale-up or Preparative Chromatography
  • Analytical Method Development, Optimization & Transfer
  • Milligram to Large-Scale Separations

 

Compound Extraction & Sample Preparation

Looking to extract a specific product from a complex matrix? Let our experts develop a process for you. We can screen various methods and determine the most efficient ones to extract any value-added product from biomass or solution. Some typical molecules we have worked with include polyphenols and phytonutrients, omega-3 & omega-6, fatty acids, pesticides, vitamins, dioxins, pollutants, conjugate polymers.

Furthermore, we can optimize your sample preparation processes using SPE cartridges, well plates, QuEChERS, liquid-liquid extraction to maximize recovery and reduce interferences.

Our generic approach for method extraction will decrease development time and costs.

Partial instrumentation list:

  • Grinder, Atomizer Air Classifying Mill
  • Centrifuge
  • Molecular Distillation System
  • Shaker & Vacuum Manifold
  • Automated SPE and Liquid Handling System

 

Analytical Method Development, Optimization & Transfer

Our experts in method development, optimization and transfer can help you with your projects. You will benefit from our highly experienced team dedicated to develop or optimize methods in different matrices (biological, food, beverages, water, etc.) and for a wide range of molecules (small to large).

Our approach is flexible and can be customized to support your product development timeline. We work with you to establish the scope of the project and determine the most suitable factors to consider for the method development.

Method Development Considerations

  • Molecular Structure: functional groups, polarity, pKa, chirality, etc.
  • Synthetic Route: raw materials used, intermediates, possible by-products, isomers, etc.
  • Sample Availability: can be purchased, API, generated, etc.
  • Separation Modes: Reversed-Phases (first mode screened), Normal and Hilic Phases
  • Detection Modes: MS, ELSD, UV, Fluorescence, etc.
  • Purity Assessment Methods: HPLC, GC, NMR, etc

With the availability of different HPLC column formats (ID from 2.1 to 100 mm) combined to various particle sizes (2.5, 3, 5 and 10 μm) and phases (RP, NP, Hilic and specialized phases), we can achieve selective and reproducible chromatographic separations for your analysis. All experiments are performed in-house with our analytical instrumentation and based on your requirements, various parameters can be investigated such as:

ParameterDefinition
AccuracyIs the agreement between measured value and real (or reference) value.
Detection and quantification limits (LOD and LOQ)Are respectively the lowest concentration which may be detected and the lowest and highest concentrations that can be quantitatively determined.
Linearity & rangeIs the ability to obtain values that are directly proportional to the concentration of the analyte within a determined range.
PrecisionIs the variability in the result from replicate determinations of the same homogeneous sample.
Repeatability and reproducibilityIs the precision under the same operating conditions over a short interval of time and between laboratories.
RobustnessIs the capacity to remain unaffected by small but deliberate changes in test conditions.
Specificity and selectivityIs the ability to obtain unequivocally the target analyte in the presence of impurities, degradants, or other components which may be expected to be present.

At the end of the project, we deliver a comprehensive report including the method development for an efficient and easy method transfer.

Partial instrumentation list:

  • High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Systems with Evaporative Light Scattering (LC-ELSD), Photo Diode Array (LC-PDA), Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) & Ultraviolet (LC-UV) Detectors
  • Gas Chromatography (GC) Systems with Flame Ionization (GC-FID) & Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) Detectors

 

Process Scale-Up Purification

SiliCycle is well equipped to promptly assist you develop an analytical method on lab-scale and scaling-up to kilo-scale production efficiently. Our scale-up strategies are based on using the same packing material, which is one of the most important aspects of scalability. This allows easy scale-up with constant performance, which guarantees optimal results throughout your purification process.

SiliCycle can provide turnkey solutions to your purification problems by performing your scale-up process separation with our expert staff in our laboratories. Our broad variety of instrumentations allows us to purify and detect a wide range of molecules even the ones with lower stability (heat sensitive compounds for example).

As a chromatographic medias manufacturer, we have a large inventory of phases readily available which helps reduce lead time and cost for your projects. If your separation requires that we develop a special phase, our production team works hand-in-hand with our R&D to support you.

Our process scale-up purification service is flexible to ensure that it will fit your needs. Here is a brief overview of the service workflow.

From small to large scale purification: Starting Materials > Crude Extract > Purification > Pure Compound

Partial instrumentation list:

  • Load and Lock Column (Dynamic Axial Compression [DAC]) & Packing Station
  • Preparative HPLC Systems Coupled with Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS Prep), Evaporative Light Scattering (LC-ELSD) & Ultraviolet (LC-UV Prep) Detectors
  • Flash-Preparative HPLC Systems Coupled with Diode Array Detector
  • High Capacity Evaporators
  • Lyophilizers

 

Process Scaling-Up in Low / Medium Pressure Liquid Chromatography

Need to run low pressure chromatography? For example, we can develop a low pressure chromatographic extraction on a 25 g flash cartridge and scale it up to a 5 kg or even a 41 kg cartridge, further develop the HPLC method for analysis and then provide all needed products for the pilot, scale-up work and commercial production.

No other manufacturer of chromatography products offers this.

Process Scaling-Up in Low / Medium Pressure Liquid Chromatography

All cartridges can be packed with the same lot for extreme reproducibility throughout your scale-up.

Partial instrumentation list:

  • SPOT PREP Preparative Chromatography
  • HPLC Systems with Mass Spectroscopy Detector (LC-MS/MS)
  • Flash-Preparative HPLC Systems Coupled with Diode Array Detector

 

Impurity Isolation & Structure Elucidation

We can help you identify, isolate and characterize impurities present in the final product or potential contamination source from a specific synthesis pathway. Our unique approach using state-of-the-art techniques and strategies allows the detection of a wide range of products even at low concentration. Based on your project requirements, many type of services are available:

  • Structure elucidation of unknown degradation or by-products
  • Preparative isolation of contaminants from the final product
  • Targeted synthesis of the impurity, followed by its analytical qualification (reference standard) for higher concentration compared to the specified accepted limit value
  • Detection in trace range (ppb) of genotoxic impurities
  • Stability studies of final product

Partial instrumentation list:

  • Elemental Analysis (CNS)
  • Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
  • HPLC Systems with Mass Spectroscopy Detector (LC-MS/MS)
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

 

Purity Determination

SiliCycle can also perform analyses for the determination of the purity percentage of various compounds (chemicals, API, peptides, etc.) and optimize chemical processes by monitoring trace impurities and side-products. We are equipped to work with sensitive products and can deliver products with extremely high purity.

Partial instrumentation list:

  • Karl-Fisher Coulometric / Volumetric Titrators
  • Gas Chromatography (GC) Systems with Flame Ionization (GC-FID) & Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) Detectors
  • HPLC Systems with Evaporative Light Scattering (LC-ELSD) or Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) Detectors
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

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  1. SiliCycle R&D Services brochure

    SiliCycle R&D Services (BRORD)

    Brochure (12 pages) - Introduction to SiliCycle's Research and Development services.

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