How SFC
Helps?
Here are some common problems and how SFC provides solutions:
SFC POWER #1
Faster Analysis and Higher Productivity
Supercritical CO₂ has low viscosity and high diffusivity, allowing for faster elution and significantly shorter run times compared to traditional HPLC. This increases throughput and sample capacity, improving lab productivity without compromising resolution.
CHALLENGE #1
Traditional methods like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) can be quite slow, requiring extended analysis times to separate components. This results in significant delays in obtaining results, which directly affects productivity and can lead to increased costs due to longer labor and equipment usage.
SOLUTION #1
Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) offers much faster separation times due to the low viscosity of supercritical CO₂. This accelerates the entire process, reduces the time per analysis, and ultimately increases overall productivity in laboratory and industrial settings.
SFC POWER #2
Lower Costs and More Sustainable Method
CO₂ is inexpensive, widely available, and recyclable. SFC reduces the use of costly and toxic organic solvents, lowering both operational costs and waste disposal expenses. This makes SFC an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option.
CHALLENGE #2
HPLC methods require the use of large quantities of organic solvents like acetonitrile. These solvents are expensive and their disposal can harm the environment, adding to operational costs and creating regulatory challenges.
SOLUTION #2
SFC primarily uses supercritical CO₂, a cheaper and less toxic solvent, which can also be easily recycled. This not only lowers the operational costs but also makes the process more sustainable, reducing the need for harmful chemicals and minimizing environmental impact.
SFC POWER #3
More Efficient Separation of Optical Isomers and Polar Compounds
SFC excels at separating chiral and polar compounds. With specialized chiral stationary phases and the unique properties of supercritical CO₂, it achieves high-resolution separations that are difficult to obtain using conventional techniques.
CHALLENGE #3
In many applications, especially in pharmaceuticals and biochemistry, separating optical isomers (enantiomers) or polar compounds can be particularly difficult and time-consuming using conventional methods like HPLC. This requires advanced techniques and long processing times, which can hinder the overall workflow.
SOLUTION #3
Supercritical CO₂ in SFC is particularly effective at separating enantiomers and polar compounds due to its unique solvent properties. The tunable nature of supercritical CO₂ allows for precise separation, making it much more efficient for these complex types of analyses.
SFC POWER #4
Lower Costs and More Sustainable Method
Methods developed in analytical-scale SFC can be easily scaled up for preparative or industrial production. This consistency simplifies technology transfer and accelerates process development, reducing time-to-market.
CHALLENGE #4
Scaling up HPLC processes from laboratory-scale to industrial-scale production can be challenging. HPLC is typically associated with high solvent consumption and slow processing times, making it difficult to adapt for large-scale industrial operations that require high throughput and cost-effectiveness.
SOLUTION #4
SFC is much easier to scale, making the transition from small-scale laboratory analysis to large-scale industrial separations smoother. SFC’s ability to handle high-volume separations efficiently with lower solvent consumption is particularly beneficial for industries like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food production.
SFC POWER #5
Environmental and Regulatory Compliance
SFC uses less hazardous solvents and produces less chemical waste, helping companies meet strict environmental regulations and sustainability goals. It aligns with green chemistry principles and supports responsible laboratory practices.
CHALLENGE #5
Regulatory frameworks are becoming more stringent, especially regarding the environmental impact of chemical processes. As industries are pushed to adopt greener, more sustainable technologies, traditional methods like HPLC that use toxic solvents are under increasing scrutiny.
SOLUTION #5
SFC using supercritical CO₂ not only reduces the environmental impact by minimizing the use of harmful solvents but also facilitates easier compliance with stringent environmental regulations. This method reduces waste, pollution, and the need for complex solvent disposal procedures, simplifying compliance with eco-friendly standards.
SFC POWER #6
Preserving the Quality of Bioactive Compounds
Thanks to low processing temperatures and inert supercritical CO₂, SFC minimizes degradation and preserves the structural integrity of sensitive bioactive molecules such as natural extracts, pharmaceuticals, and peptides.
CHALLENGE #6
In pharmaceutical and natural product industries, extracting bioactive compounds (such as plant-based compounds or pharmaceutical ingredients) often involves high temperatures or harsh solvents. This can degrade sensitive compounds, reducing their effectiveness and lowering product quality.
SOLUTION #6
SFC operates under mild conditions, using low temperatures and low water content, which helps preserve the integrity of bioactive compounds. This makes it ideal for the extraction of sensitive molecules, ensuring that their chemical structure and biological activity are maintained throughout the process.
SFC POWER #7
Safe Processing of Sensitive and Thermolabile Compounds
SFC operates at lower temperatures and under inert conditions, making it ideal for compounds that degrade under heat or oxygen exposure. This enhances safety and protects valuable substances during purification.
Because CO₂ returns to the gas phase at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, it is easily removed post-separation. This accelerates product recovery and eliminates the need for lengthy solvent evaporation steps.
CHALLENGE #7
Many compounds, especially pharmaceuticals and natural extracts, are sensitive to heat or harsh chemical environments. Traditional extraction and purification techniques can cause thermal degradation or chemical reactions that compromise the quality and safety of the final product.
SOLUTION #7
Because SFC uses supercritical CO₂ at mild temperatures and with minimal water, it allows for the gentle processing of sensitive and thermolabile compounds. This ensures that active ingredients remain intact, reducing the risk of degradation and preserving the efficacy of the final product.
SFC POWER #8
Faster Solvent Removal After Separation
CHALLENGE #8
In traditional HPLC and preparative chromatography, solvents like methanol or acetonitrile need to be removed from the separated compounds after the process, which can be time-consuming, expensive, and energy-intensive.
SOLUTION #8
One of the advantages of SFC is that supercritical CO₂ naturally evaporates after the separation step, leaving the isolated compounds behind. This eliminates the need for additional steps to remove solvents, saving time, reducing costs, and simplifying the overall process.
SFC POWER #9
Improved Method Stability and Reproducibility
SFC provides excellent control over temperature, pressure, and flow rate, ensuring consistent performance and reproducible results. This is particularly important for validated methods and regulatory submissions.
CHALLENGE #9
In conventional chromatography methods, even slight variations in factors such as solvent composition, temperature, or pressure can lead to significant changes in the results. This can make it difficult to achieve reliable, reproducible results, especially for high-precision applications.
SOLUTION #9
SFC operates in highly controlled systems with precise regulation of conditions such as pressure and temperature, ensuring greater stability and reproducibility of results. This leads to more consistent and reliable analyses, which is critical for high-accuracy applications in research and industry.
SFC POWER #10
More Efficient Analysis of Complex Mixtures
SFC can handle complex matrices and multi-component samples with high selectivity. It provides efficient separation even in challenging applications like botanical extracts, synthetic mixtures, or reaction intermediates.
CHALLENGE #10
Analyzing complex mixtures, such as natural extracts or pharmaceutical formulations, using HPLC often requires multiple columns and lengthy processes to fully separate all components. This not only adds time but can complicate the process with multiple steps and methods.
SOLUTION #10
SFC allows for the efficient separation of complex mixtures in a single step. By adjusting the properties of the supercritical CO₂, SFC can selectively separate a wide range of components simultaneously, reducing the need for multiple columns or complex multi-step procedures.
SFC POWER #11
Precise Chiral Purity Control in Pharmaceuticals
Chiral purity is essential in pharmaceutical development. SFC offers a powerful platform for enantiomeric separation, with excellent resolution and speed, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards for chiral drugs.
CHALLENGE #11
In the pharmaceutical industry, controlling the purity of chiral compounds (enantiomers) is critical since different enantiomers of the same molecule can have vastly different effects on the human body. Ensuring the correct enantiomer is present requires precise separation techniques.
SOLUTION #11
SFC is one of the most effective techniques for enantioselective chromatography, allowing for the precise separation and analysis of enantiomers. This ensures that pharmaceutical products meet stringent quality control standards for chiral purity, helping to improve drug safety and efficacy.
SFC POWER #12
Cost-Effective Preparative Chromatography
SFC is highly suited for preparative-scale separations. It reduces solvent use, shortens purification time, and simplifies downstream processing, making it a cost-efficient solution for purifying active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and fine chemicals.
CHALLENGE #12
When isolating large quantities of pure compounds, the cost and inefficiency of using HPLC increase due to high solvent consumption and time required for purification.
SOLUTION #12
Since SFC uses supercritical CO₂ as the primary solvent, which is both cheaper and more efficient, it allows for cost-effective preparative chromatography. This method significantly reduces operational costs, making it more viable for large-scale separations and extractions.