Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General FAQs
What Sets NanoPak-C Apart?
NanoPak-C’s product features, customer benefits, and underlying manufacturing technology sets it apart. You can read about it here.
What are the features of NanoPak-C All Carbon microbeads?
pH stability 0-14; Temperature stability up to 200°C; Tunable particle size, pore size & porosity; Functionalizable; Fully scalable from analytical to prep. You can read about it here.
Why All-Carbon?
All Carbon stationary phase materials’ differentiated characteristics provide unique benefits to separation science. This blog elaborates further.
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What are your core products?
We offer products for entire drug discovery R&D and manufacturing workflow. These products include bulk media, solid phase extraction, flash, analytical, and preparative chromatograph products. Please click here for our current product offerings.
Can the NanoPak-C products be customized?
Yes. We partner and collaborate to create customized solutions. We elaborate here.
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Can your products be upscaled?
Yes. We offer products for process scale sample preparation and chromatography. Please check here.
Which are your top markets & customers?
Pharmaceutical & Biologics manufacturers and CROs; Food & Beverage; Forensics and Environmental testing labs; Academia & Government Institutions.
How do we order your products?
https://www.millennialscientific.com/shop
For detailed information on any product, its application, & pricing, please visit www.millennialscientific.com or contact us at sales@millennialscientific.com.
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​​SPE FAQs
What is SPE?
SPE, or Solid Phase Extraction, is a sample preparation technique used to isolate and concentrate analytes from a sample matrix. SPE technique is used to purify samples before analysis, often in conjunction with techniques like liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry. Read more about terminologies here.
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What are the advantages of using SPE?
The major advantages of using SPE include:
Improved sensitivity by concentrating analytes.
Removal of interferences that can affect the analysis.
Simplified complex samples.
Improved instrument lifetime.
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What are the different formats available in SPE?
The different SPE formats available are SPE Columns, cartridges, and pipette Tips. You can read more about these formats in our blog here.
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How do I choose the right adsorbent material for my SPE application?
The choice of adsorbent material depends on the properties of the analytes and the sample matrix. Common adsorbents silica-based media for polar compounds, All carbon reverse phase reversed-phase media for non-polar compounds, ion-exchange media for charged compounds etc.
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What types of samples can be pre-treated using SPE?
SPE is a versatile technique used for a wide range of analytes across various scientific fields such as:
Environmental water samples.
Biological fluids (blood, urine).
Food and beverages.
Soil and sediment samples.
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What types of analytes can be extracted using SPE?
The wide range of SPE applications allows for the extraction of a diverse set of analytes. Here's a breakdown of some common types of analytes extracted using SPE:
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Nonpolar and Moderately Polar Compounds: These include drugs, pesticides, herbicides, environmental pollutants like PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), and many natural products. Reversed-phase SPE with C18 or similar sorbents is often used for these analytes.
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Polar Analytes: These can be drugs, metabolites, pharmaceuticals, some food additives, and certain biological molecules. Normal-phase SPE with silica or specific functionalized sorbents like amino or diol are employed for their extraction.
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Ions: Inorganic cations (metals) and anions can be selectively extracted using ion-exchange sorbents. These sorbents come in different types (anion exchange, cation exchange) to target specific ionic analytes.
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Biomolecules: Proteins, peptides, and some larger biomolecules can be isolated or desalted (removal of salts) using specialized SPE sorbents. These sorbents might have functionalities that interact with specific biomolecules.
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Other Analytes: Depending on the chosen sorbent and careful method development, SPE can also be used for less common analytes like explosives, toxins, and certain organic pollutants.
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What are the steps involved in SPE?
Click here to access an application note that provides general guidance to extract acidic, neutral, and alkaline compounds from solid, semi-solid, and liquid samples.
Following are the basic steps involved in SPE. These steps can be optimised as per the analyte or method
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Conditioning: Activate the sorbent bed with specific solvents.
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Loading: Pass the sample solution through the cartridge.
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Washing: Remove unwanted matrix components with appropriate solvents.
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Elution: Elute the analytes of interest with a suitable solvent for collection and analysis.
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How do I choose the right SPE column/cartridge for my analysis?
Choosing the right SPE column/cartridge involves considering several factors to ensure efficient extraction of the target analyte from a specific sample matrix. For example:
Consider the properties of your analyte (polarity, size).
Consider the sample matrix and interferences.
Choose the appropriate sorbent type.
Select the cartridge size based on sample volume and analyte concentration.
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What solvents are typically used in SPE?
The choice of solvents depends on the analyte and matrix properties. Common ones include methanol, acetonitrile, and water.
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How do I optimize SPE conditions for my specific application?
Optimization of SPE involves selecting the appropriate adsorbent, conditioning solvent, wash solvent, and elution solvent. Experiment with different combinations and concentrations to achieve the best recovery and purity of the analytes.
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Product related FAQs
Can the NanoPak-C SPE products be customised?
Custom products across these formats are also available.
Visit our store at www.millennialscientific.com/shop to learn more.
How do we order NanoPak-C SPE columns or Cartridges?
You can order our SPE products here
For detailed information on any product, its application, & pricing, please visit www.millennialscientific.com or contact us at sales@millennialscientific.com.
Advanced Topics
What is the difference between SPE and Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)?
SPE is a cartridge-based technique, while SPME uses a fiber for analyte absorption.
SPE offers higher sample throughput, and SPME is less solvent-intensive.
How can I dispose of SPE waste safely?
Follow waste disposal regulations based on the solvents used. Consider solvent recycling options.
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