Patron Member
AnaLig® products are small diameter solid phase particles (100 – 200 mm 60 – 100 mesh) consisting of a metal-selective MRT ligand chemically bonded to solid supports such as silica gel or polymer substrates.
AnaLig® products, usually in column format, are used to carry out highly selective separations on target species preparatory to analytical analysis of these species. AnaLig® products are effective in removing ions in complex feed solutions to mg/L to µg/L concentration levels. Traditional separation techniques are ineffective at these low concentration levels.
IBCs partner, GL Sciences (Japan), packs AnaLig® particles into columns or disks. The feed solution to be analyzed is passed through the column and the target ion is removed selectively from the solution. Elution of the column using a concentrated eluent solution results in concentration by a large factor of the separated, pure analyte. Analysis of the concentrated solution for the desired metal is then done using standard analytical instruments. The entire separation, concentration, and analysis procedure can be fully automated for continuous operation. An important feature of the process is the rapidity with which the analyses can be made.
AnaLig® can also be used to eliminate matrix interferents prior to doing instrumental analysis, thus increasing detection capability.
AnaLig® products are available for a wide range of metals, non-metals, and anions. These include precious metals (Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, Au, and Ag); radionuclides (Cs, Sr, Ra, Pu, and U); transition metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, and Re); alkali and alkaline earth metals (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba); toxic metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Tl); other metals (B, Zn, Ge, In, Sb, and Bi), and anions (F-, Cl-, Br-, sulfate ion).
An example of the usefulness of AnaLig® is in the radionuclide industry. IBC’s separations technology is used to analyze radionuclides. The environmental and health consequences of radionuclides can be grave. They can enter the food chain and contaminate water, milk or other nutrients. Rad Disks, developed jointly by IBC, 3M and Argonne National Laboratory, have dramatically reduced the time required to analyze radionuclides such as strontium and radium (i.e., day(s) to less than 20 minutes). Winner of both the R&D 100 Award and the Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer, Rad Disks are used worldwide.
Applications of AnaLig® technology include routine laboratory analyses and analysis of industrial streams on an automated real time continuous basis. The process is useful for analysis of environmental samples because of its ability to rapidly and selectively separate and concentrate target metals or anions present at very low concentration levels (mg/L to µg/L), shorten analysis time, and minimize the environmental consequences and carbon footprint of the analysis procedure since organic solvents and other chemicals are not used and all procedures are performed at ambient temperatures.