Green chemical separation and purification is an emergent technique that incorporates green technologies and materials for the efficient separation and purification of chemicals aimed at mitigating ecological impact. To meet diverse client requirements, CD BioSciences-GreenChemistry has dedicated itself to delivering top-notch green chemistry separation and purification services.
In the whole chemical process, whether it is to extract, purify, or prepare a substance or a compound, one of the basic and most vital steps is said to be chemical separation and chemical purification. The desired components in a mixture are separated using different approaches, which include distillation, filtration, and extraction among others in a process that is known as separation. Purification follows separation and involves the removal of other impurities to meet a particular purity standard of the compound. These two steps not only play an important role in the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology but are also indispensable in the R&D of new materials and drugs as they are fundamental in determining the quality, performance, and safety of products.
Fig.1 Common methods of compound isolation and purification. (Zhou, et al., 2023)
The application of green techniques to the separation and purification process to green all energy types is referred to as a low-energy, non-polluting separation and purification green process. Also, the purification of chemicals by using technology and materials that have low environmental impacts for chemical processing is defined as green separation and purification. This approach decreases environmental pollution and resource consumption and also improves the safety and effectiveness of chemical processes.
Green separation and purification services for chemicals have a wide range of applications in several fields, notably:
In the production of goods in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the right selection of separation and purification technologies has a positive impact not only by increasing the quality of the product but also by limiting the amount of impact on the environment. Below are some compounds that can be efficiently purified by green separation techniques, including the green chemical separation techniques they use and the main application areas of these compounds.
| Compounds | Green Separation Technology | Applications |
| Metal salts (e.g. AgCl, BaSO4, Fe(OH)3) | Precipitation and crystallization | Chemical field and new material development |
| Nanoparticles | Centrifugation and membrane separation | Pharmaceuticals and new material development |
| Polyphenols (e.g. tea polyphenols) | Supercritical fluid extraction and enzyme-assisted extraction | Food, medicine, and healthcare product development |
| Natural products (e.g. 1,8-eudesmol) | Steam distillation and molecular distillation | Development of flavours and fragrances and research on aromatherapy |
| Natural pigments (e.g. anthocyanins) | Water-based extraction | Food dyes, cosmetics |
| Biomolecules (e.g. proteins, nucleic acids) | Precipitation, centrifugation, ion exchange, electrophoresis, and chromatography | Pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals development |
As environmental protection becomes more urgent, we offer green methods for chemical separation and purification services. Such methods minimize environmental hazards through the use of green solvents, energy-saving technologies, and fewer waste emissions.
Precipitation-based Chemical Separation and Purification
We focus on the design and optimization of precipitation protocols to provide optimum separation and purity tailored to our client's requirements and chemical nature. By varying the reaction conditions (pH, temperature of the reaction, type, and concentration of the precipitant), we can separate and purify a wide range of substances including metal salts, proteins, enzymes, etc., and obtain very pure compounds.
Centrifugation-based Chemical Separation and Purification
Centrifugation relies on density differences within a blend and quickly spins the sample to induce centrifugal force which separates mixture components. Based on the compound characteristics, we change the centrifugal force and time for efficient separation of solid particles in suspension, air, and water layers in emulsions, as well as precipitates and solutions like proteins, macromolecules, nanoparticles, and certain oxides of metals.
Ion exchange-based Chemical Separation and Purification
The ion exchange process is environmentally friendly and involves the charge interactions occurring between ion exchange resins and the target compounds. We focus on the resins and the operating conditions that will enable us to achieve optimal separation of the charged molecules, which can include proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids, and salts among others.
Chromatography-based Chemical Separation and Purification
Chromatography enables efficient separation and purification of different substances in a mixture by exploiting the differences in the speeds at which they move between the stationary and mobile phases. Based on the principles of chromatography, we offer separation solutions for organic small molecules, natural products, and complex biological macromolecules such as peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids. The chromatographic methods we offer include, but are not limited to, the following:
Solvent extraction-based Chemical Separation and Purification
Solvent extraction is a method of separating substances utilizing the principle of selective dissolution. Our team adopts the appropriate solvent system according to the client's needs to ensure the efficient separation of the target compounds. The compounds we currently purify using solvent extraction include, but are not limited to: organic acids, bases, metal ions, aromatic hydrocarbons, and certain biologically active molecules, among other compounds.
Electrophoresis-based Chemical Separation and Purification
Electrophoresis is a green separation technique based on the difference in migration of charged particles in an electric field. Based on the basic principles of electrophoresis, we achieve efficient separation of macromolecules in biology and chemistry, such as proteins, DNA, and RNA.
Crystallization-based Chemical Separation and Purification
We adopt advanced crystallization techniques for the green separation of chemicals such as the purification of organic acids, natural pigments, and pharmaceutical compounds. By adjusting crystallization conditions such as solvent, temperature, supersaturation, and crystal growth time to improve crystallization efficiency and selectivity, we ensure that high-purity products are produced.
Membrane Separation-based Chemical Separation and Purification
Membrane separation technology is a highly efficient and environmentally friendly method for the separation and purification of chemicals. We select suitable membrane materials according to the characteristics of different compounds and adjust the conditions such as pore size, pressure, and temperature of the membrane to carry out green separation of target compounds. The membrane separation technology we offer is suitable for separating small organic compounds, inorganic ions, proteins, and other large molecules.
The green chemistry separation and purification services that we offer typically follow the process outlined below:
CD BioSciences-GreenChemistry's green chemical separation and purification services fortify the clients with the capabilities to separate and purify the chemicals in an environmentally sustainable manner. We offer modern technologies and green processes that will not only facilitate in enhancing the quality of the products, but also assist in greatly minimizing the detrimental effects on the ecosystem, and optimize the efficiency of resources. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in our services or have any questions.
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