Chiral separations
Separate and quantify enantiomers on chiral columns.
Useful forChiral drugs and intermediatesChromatography & Separation
SFC/E
Super Critical Fluid Chromatography / Extraction
SFC/E uses supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent, to separate compounds on a column (SFC) or extract them from a solid (SFE). It is fast, low in organic solvent and suited to chiral and natural-product work.
1 test optionSupercritical CO₂ as solventChiral separations & extractsTypical turnaround 5–8 working days
SFC/E measurement principleIllustrative
01 / Overview
What is SFC/E?
Above about 31 °C and 74 bar, CO₂ becomes a supercritical fluid with the density of a liquid and the flow of a gas. A pump delivers it, often with a co-solvent such as methanol, through a heated column or extraction vessel, and a back-pressure regulator keeps it supercritical.
SFC separates compounds faster than HPLC with far less organic solvent, and is widely used for chiral work. SFE extracts oils, flavours and actives from solids and leaves no solvent residue once the CO₂ is released.
02 / How it works
How it works
- 01
CO₂ is pressurised
Cooled CO₂ is pumped to high pressure, with a co-solvent added if the method needs one.
- 02
Fluid turns supercritical
In the heated vessel or column, CO₂ passes its critical point and dissolves the analytes.
- 03
Separate or extract
On a column the compounds separate; in a vessel they are extracted from the solid.
- 04
Pressure is released
After the back-pressure regulator, CO₂ turns to gas and leaves the analytes or extract.
03 / What it measures
What it measures
Purity & impurities
Compound profiles, also as an orthogonal check to HPLC.
Useful forAPIs, fine chemicalsNatural-product extracts
Oils, flavours and actives extracted with CO₂.
Useful forBotanicals, spices, seedsLipids & non-polar compounds
Fats, oils, waxes and fat-soluble vitamins.
Useful forOils, vitamins, carotenoidsExtraction yield
Extract mass recovered, with no solvent residue.
Useful forProcess and formulation trials04 / Test options
Choose the SFC/E options you need
1 option · none added yet
05 / Sample requirements
Sample requirements
- Accepted forms
- Solids or solutions for SFC; dry, ground solids for SFE
- Quantity
- 10–50 mg for SFC; typically 10–50 g of solid for SFE
- Solubility
- Share solubility in methanol or ethanol and any method you have
- Standards
- Reference standards or a racemate help identify peaks
- Say whether you need separation (SFC) or extraction (SFE)
- Dry and grind plant material before sending it for SFE
- Send the racemate and pure enantiomer, if available, for chiral work
- No aqueous solutions or very wet samples without discussing first
- No pressurised, explosive or highly volatile materials
Hazardous or air-sensitive samples: mention it in your request, and attach the MSDS if you have one.
06 / Results & turnaround
Results & turnaround
What you receive
- Chromatograms and peak table (SFC)
- Enantiomeric ratio or purity, where applicable
- Extract yield in % w/w (SFE)
- Method conditions: pressure, temperature, co-solvent
- Report PDF
Turnaround & pricing
Typically 5–8 working days after samples reach the lab.
Price confirmed in your quotation, depending on user type, options and number of samples.
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