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In this section we introduce you into the requirements of prep and Production scale chromatography. and we present to you :
- Innovative process control and yield enhancement software (Under construction)
- Prep Pumps
- Detectors (Under construction)
- Prep Systems (Under Construction)
- Fraction Collectors (Under Construction)
Chromatographers may chose today between turn key plants and equipment or custom made / self assembled plants equipment and Devices
To obtain very competitive, effective and efficient gram to kilogram scale separation & purification processes we provide process know how and major process components.
Every client has an individual set of requirements and this is particularly so in prep and production scale chromatography .
- Prep and Production scale LC and HPLC Components
Prep- and Production Scale Chromatography has gone through spectacular growth in the past 50 years. Compared to analytical HPLC is Prep Chromatography a production process that competes with other processes such as crystallisation or distillation. To compete one requires high yield and compound purity. We have developed and evaluated over the past 15 years many new LC processes. Some are explained in the section “Process Technology”. Tremendous advancements in material science enables us today to manufacture easy-to-use and highly effective separation materials and methods that results in very pure compounds at very competitive costs.
Pep-scale purification and separation process operation comprise more or less always the same process sequences as follows:
- Sample preparation
- Sample separation and purification using planar forms - (Membranes) and various columns (Liquid and / or Gas Chromatography)to achieve the target results.
The devices and software used ultimately determines whether or not a particular process is competitive and reproducible. We like to help you in the component evaluation process and in choosing the very best chromatography materials and equipment components.
Prep- and production scale chromatography is about developing the most cost efficient and effective method for semi-production and production environments!
Modern HPLC materials allow reproducible scale-up from analytical to pep- and production scale. This may not apply to normal phase Flash chromatography because Flash materials are not highly developed and not as pure as HPLC materials. However, in some situation Flas chromatography / MPLC is a better choice than HPLC. We help to find the best solution.
In some cases the users dont have solvent recycling facilities. In such situations the chromatographer is best advised to use phases that can be recycled and conditioned fast and with little solvent.
In some cases EX protection is necessary. This may lead to dramatic increases in costs.
We like to assist and to help analyzing your needs. We then would be ready to help you to succeed and to supply components that assure very effective and efficient sample output at low costs.
A number of facts have to be taken into consideration as follows:
Analytical methods are not yield and cost optimized. Thus the following modus operandi has to be pursued:
- Step 1: To define what has to be achieve in terms of Compound quantity to be produced per time unit
- Step 2: To define level of purity in term of chemical and chiral purities
- Step 3: To define process life
- Step 4: To define disposal costs
- Step 5: To define targeted production costs for target compound.
Column Load Capacity-consideration:
Being able to get enough from the column in a given period of time is one of the most important factors in prep chromatography. What are our yield and cost objectives? We want to know how long it will take to get enough samples to fill my objectives.
When working with solvents that are not optimal for solubility of sample, load is decreased. One has to find diluents solvents to match the mobile phase. Every column has its own load capacity. Please enquire with us or column supplier.
Cost per sample consideration:
If the column cost is very high as in the case of chiral materials all parameters have to be looked at including costs of time, solvents used column replacement costs etc. . . . You will realize this is a very important criterion in prep chromatography since there are large differences in yield and costs.
Cost of consumables to be considered:
- Cost of solvents.
- Cost of solvent varies from type and purity of solvents used and from country to country.
There are large differences in solvent usage between the different chromatography materials and method
- Runtime, ml / minute – some column have reduced runtimes.
- Equilibration time, ml / minute – some columns use very small quantities of solvents for column equilibration. Please enquire.
- Cost of disposal, total volume – use less, dispose of less.
- Throughput
Less equilibration time, more runtime per day – Due to time saving in equilibration time. There are columns that require only 1 column volume to equilibrate and they are columns that use 20 column volume for equilibration
- Column lifetime.
There are columns that last up to 10 times longer than ordinary columns.
- Cleaning the column
Column live can be extended if they are serviced properly. This can be done quickly and hysteresis effects avoided. Its cost has to be included.
- Many modes for one column.
Some columns allow running a number of modes (RP, HILIC, ANP etc.) This enables that undesirable solvents and more different solvents engaged to improve solubility range for the column/sample match.
- On-column degradation.
Some compounds require extreme conditions (low/high pH, Temp etc) that may lead to accelerated column degradation. In reverse extreme conditions may also hydrolyze or modify compounds or lead to in-column crystallisation. Change process or columns chemistry!
- Availability of bulk materials
- Some suppliers manufacture only small quantities of separation materials for analytical applications. In the past 10 years we have seen a departure from in-house packed to professionally packed columns. Column packing is not trivial –particularly new type B, C and hybrid materials are much more sensitive to be packed. The market is today very price and quality competitive and so it makes sense to let the material manufacturer pack your column.
Cost of Hardware / System
- Branded chromatography systems:
- Large pharmaceutical manufacturing companies seem to prefer branded equipment from the large system suppliers. They assume that large system suppliers are here to stay and will offer better service. History has shown that this may not the case because large companies grow by acquiring smaller technology suppliers and their competitors. After the acquisition they often have to pay for the acquisition and this is traditionally done by streamlining the product range and releasing the competent technical people.
- Small privately owned companies do lots of custom based development work. This way they actively advance the industry. Some also manufacture for large system manufacturer branded products. Privately owned specialty engineering and manufacturing enterprises such as ours are generally very stable suppliers particularly those that supply reliable quality products. To survive as small specialty product manufacturer they are forced to offer very competitive pricing and functional products. Our clients are primarily small and growing companies and research institution with limited budgets.
Conservative engineering
- Small companies have much to lose and so they use conservative designs or they over-design their products.
- Large enterprises have large overheads. They are under pressure to maximize their income . Some cut down on raw material cost to reduce product costs (low cost steel, thin steel for housing and base plates).
- Our components are heavier and sturdier and run for many years without maintenance. Our components and systems are being used not only in chromatography but also in heavy engineering environment such as in oil exploration. Prep Chromatography systems are working horses. They have to be designed conservatively and have to be mechanically robust.
- Turn-key system vs. evolving system
- There are two kinds of end-users. Those who prefer turn-key systems and those who want to evolve a system. Turnkey systems cant be altered very much. The client has to know precisely what he needs. In turbulent times chromatographers often have to modify or extend their processes.
If you are interested in establishing a Liquid Chromatography based separation- purification process, please complete the enclosed questionnaire and return it back to us so that we can present you with a number of process choices
If you are interested in procuring Pumps, Detectors, Systems etc. please move to the relevant section or get our brochure
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