Modular SFC to Introduce the CFC-2 Centrifugal Fraction Collector at Pittcon 2008

Modular SFC is introducing the CFC-2 Fraction Collector for supercritical fluid chromatography at Pittcon 2008, March 2–7, 2008, in New Orleans (Booth No. 2608). The novel instrument enables collection of up to 24 SFC fractions with sample recoveries of greater than 90%. The CFC-2 Fraction Collector employs patented centrifugal technology that captures non-volatile materials entrained in the eluent stream from any SFC system. The instrument operates at atmospheric pressure, eliminating the complexity and pressurized vessel requirements of typical SFC fraction collectors. The compact instrument (20 in. wide × 9 in. high × 26 in. deep) can be conveniently placed on a laboratory bench, alongside the SFC instrument.

The CFC-2 Fraction Collector uses centrifugal force to perform a density separation upon the spray from a flexible eluant tube which is connected to the backpressure regulator outlet of any SFC system. The centrifugal force captures non-volatile liquids and solid precipitates in standard, off-the-shelf glass containers. The expanded CO₂ gas phase and other vapors are contained inside the rotor compartment and blown through an exhaust hose to the nearest laboratory vent system. The standard rotor (models available to accommodate a variety of containers), holds 24 x 30 mL fraction collection tubes, spins at 1500 rpm (concentrator speed), and will recover non-volatile flow rates to 50 mL/min. The patented technology eliminates the need to use the pressurized collection containers incorporated into most SFC fraction collectors.

The CFC-2 Fraction Collector allows collection of a large number of fractions during a broad polarity separation by SFC. The convenience and capabilities afforded by multiple fraction collections simplify the migration of traditional HPLC applications to SFC for complex mixtures requiring many fractions or multiple samples requiring only a few fractions each. Applications include high purity chiral separations; isolation of impurities from reaction products; fractionation of natural products and other complex mixtures; isolation of metabolites and biomarkers from biological fluids; and Flash SFC.