The post Now offering a state of the art Amino Acid Analyzer using time proven ninhydran chemistry. appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

ICON Scientific has been an HPLC distributer since 1993. Over 40 years of liquid chromatography experience enables us to be expert in product application, configuration, and customer application. With recent changes in legislation, we saw a unique opportunity to enter the cannabis and hemp space. 

Our vast portfolio of products includes:

Extraction Systems:                                                                                                                                                                                              

• unique technology – natural extraction solution                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
• low pressure extraction technology based on TFE (tetrafluoroethane)                                                                                                                                                 
• TFE’s are very inert, no residue – lower cost – less degradation -yields significantly better extraction and much lower    critical pressures & temperatures

Flash Chromatography:                                                                                                                                                                       

• has the lowest capex                                                                                                                                                                                              
• purify kilograms of material                                                                                                                                                                                             
• handle preparative HPLC columns in addition to flash columns    

Cannabis Purification Systems:                                                                                                                                                

• Preparative HPLC System, capabilities up to 4 liters/min. are available                                                                                                                                
• capable of processing up to 20 kilos of material per day                                                                                                                                                                          
• multiple systems can be set up in tandem                                                                                                                                                                                 
• economical scale-up                                                               

CPC- Centrifugal Partition Chromatography:                                                                                                                                    

• for purification                                                                                                                                                                                        
• stationary and mobile phases are liquid                                                                                                                                                       
• higher purity than traditional HPLC                                                                                                                                                                       
• costs more to purchase but very low operating costs

We look forward to the opportunity to discuss your needs and application. 

The post The ANSER appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

The post New Amino Acid Analyzer appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

Conducting SARS-COV-2 research?

ICON Scientific’s versatile capabilities for liquid chromatography technology can help you. Liquid chromatography techniques are used in vaccine and therapeutic development. Icon scientific has over 40 years of experience in analytical and preparative LC and is committed to assisting pharmaceutical, government, biotech and University Hospitals in SARS-COV-2 research. 

Liquid chromatography is used in all aspects of research from analytical applications, analysis of active agents, preparative and protein purification to RNA purification.

Contact us: 301-330-4266

Knauer Chromatography products can help to discover, understand, and develop research and medical treatment against SARS-COV-2. 

The post COVID-19 appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

Icon Scientific offers the latest technology in HPLC pumps. Both our pump and system configurations require a very small amount of bench space and are easy to maintain. Small footprint pumps are available in many combinations to meet a wide range of laboratory tasks.

Small footprint pumps can be an integral part of a small modular HPLC system. As stand alone pumps they are frequently used in PET isotope and flow reaction chemistry labs. They are a perfect solution for HPLC and dosing applications any time bench space is limited. All of our pumps are designed and built in Germany.

Our compact pumps have an optional pressure transducer, choice of 10 or 50 ml/min pump head and a choice of pump head material: stainless steel, ceramic or hastelloy C. They can be controlled by the keypad or externally by analog or digital control. The P 4.1s pump features an integrated pressure sensor which ensures pressure-independent flow rate accuracy. For system protection, the pump drive is switched off when it reaches a pre-defined pressure limit. A pressure rating of up to 400 bar and chemical resistance to a wide range of eluents make it the perfect choice for LC and dosing applications. Its interchangeable pump head allows adaptation of the pump for delivery of aggressive media and bioinert applications. The pump head can be heated or cooled with optimal accessories. The 2.1s pumps have the same feature set as the 4.1s but they do not include a pressure transducer.

Knauer high pressure pumps are well known for their compactness, reliability and versatility. They are an industry standard for HPLC and flow reaction chemistry as well as dosing applications. 

The Knauer compact dual piston pumps AZURA P4.1s and AZURA P2.1s series both have a small footprint and can be used for a variety of applications. Some models have electronic compensation drive which offers very low pulsation. AZURA pumps are available for state-of-art UHPLC, for extended performance HPLC (HPLC plus), for standard analytical HPLC and for lab-scale purification tasks up to 1000 ml/min. The Pneumatic pump 1950 is an excellent choice for column packing.

Dosing pumps are designed for feeding liquids under pressure. A selection of pump head materials are available to enable customized chemical compatibility with a wide range of liquids. As in all of our analytical pumps, two flow rate ranges are available to handle analytical and semi prep flow rates. In preparative pumps, four flow rates ranges are offered as well as stainless steel or titanium pump heads.The pump design provides excellent performance for low, medium and high pressure doing applications. Pump heads can easily be changed to enable a different flow rate range or for chemical compatibility issues. 

 

Our small footprint space saving pumps offer incredible flexibility and versatility. They are rugged and offer high performance while being compact and easily integrated into systems. All of our HPLC and FPLC pumps are extremely reliable.

 

Our HPLC and FPLC pumps are used in a wide variety of industries and applications. Such as…

• pharmaceutical
• protein peptides
• food and beverage
• PET isotopes
• academia
• quality control
• biotech
• oil and gas
• consumer goods
• lubricants and adhesives
• cannabis and hemp
• and many more

Contact us for expert advice on selecting the pump that best fits your application.

 

The post Small footprint HPLC pumps appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

An LED detector is a solid state detector with a discrete wavelength that measures the absorbance to identify the analyte of interest. 

Conventional detectors are significantly larger in size and require a warm up time to stabilize.

LED detectors are the perfect choice for applications where a specific wavelength is used for detection of an analyte. 280 nm is commonly used for protein identification. 255 nm is used in a scout detector for PET isotope applications. 415 nm is used in clinical applications looking at hemoglobin. These are just a few examples but there are many other applications for LED detection.

ICON Scientific’s New ANSER UV/VIS LED detector has exceptional performance and meets a variety of application requirements. Our LED detectors cover the UV-VIS from 234nm to 1050nm using either a single fixed LED or two LED’s, using novel rapid switching technology. These detectors can handle a wide range of flow cells covering nano liters to liters/min. flow rates. Our full range of flow cells include fiber optic connected flow cells with fiber optics available in custom lengths. These detectors are also available in OEM modules. 

The features of the ANSER UV-LED Detector are:

• Ability to choose a single or dual wavelength option 234-1050nm
• It can be bought as a standalone unit, integrated into systems or sold as an OEM module
• All standard flow cells can be used
• Custom length fiber optics
• Remote sensing can be performed by use of fiber optics and a remote flow cell

The benefits of LED detection are:

• No heat generated
• Instant “on”, no warm up period
• Extremely small size
• Can be used in spaces where other detectors wouldn’t fit
• Long life
• Low noise
• More cost effective than other types of UV detectors 
• Extremely well suited for miniaturized HPLC, mobile applications, Q.C. and teaching applications 

Popular applications for UV/VIS LED Detectors: 

• Protein purification 
• Scout detection for PET isotopes
• Quality control
• Quality assurance
• Teaching
• Process monitoring
• Flow reaction monitoring  

LED detectors can be used in instruments from nano flow to liters per minute and can also be used with fiber optics for remote sensing. The ANSER UV/VIS LED detector can be customized for a variety of applications including being configured for OEM integration.

https://www.iconsci.com/product/anser-uvl1-uvl2-led-detectors/

The post ANSER UV/VIS LED Detector appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

Online degassing is important when doing HPLC, FPLC, GPC, and uHPLC because degassing will remove dissolved gas therefore avoiding bubble formation. Degassing will improve quantitative analysis. Online degassing replaces helium sparging. 

Outgassing is a term used to describe dissolved gasses coming out of solution. This occurs in HPLC systems were rough surfaces produce nucleation sites for bubble formation. Bubbles entering the HPLC systems will present a false signal to the detector.

Outgassing and bubble formation create problems for HPLC, FPLC, GPC and uHPLC systems. 

Low pressure mixing: systems are more prone to bubble formation. The solvents used for the mobile phase are mixed before the pump. Outgassing affects the volume of liquid after the valve and before the pump because the valves are proportioned based on time and can not discern whether there are bubbles in the liquid or not. This results in an inaccurate gradient.

• With high pressure mixing each solvent has its own pump and mixing takes place after the pumps. This configuration is less prone to outgassing issues. 
• Low pressure mixing systems are more prone to bubble peak formation 
• Outgassing creates bubbles in the flow cell, creating spurious peaks 
• Outgassing disrupts the column bed in FPLC ruining the separation process 
• Bubble formation can be the cause of many performance issues, both in low pressure and high pressure mixing 

Our degasser modules use proprietary technology. A flat membrane is incorporated on both sides of the cassette to provide maximum surface area with minimal volume. We optimize the efficiency of the membrane by precisely controlling its thickness to maximize degassing efficiency. This innovative technique enables the highest degassing efficiency in the industry. Our breakthrough in technology hugely improves traditional teflon tube degassers that are common place today.

We offer 2-8 channel modules that are available to handle analytical to semi-prep applications. All modules work with HPLC, UHPLC, FPLC, and GPC. Custom OEM configurations are available.

The post Why is online degassing so important? appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

HPLC is helping to legitimize cannabis products as the legal market looks set to overturn the illicit cannabis industry; estimated at a staggering $10.4 billion in 2018, despite the drug being Schedule 1 listed.

In this blog post, Icon Scientific will offer a brief overview of how the consensus on cannabis and hemp have changed in the U.S. and why HPLC is the perfect tool for the modern industry.

Brief History of Cannabis in the U.S.

Cannabis prohibition was adopted in many U.S. states in the 1920s when the plant was widely and incorrectly restricted as a poison; beginning a long history of criminalization and misinformation. Its primary psychoactive compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), was not even discovered until 1964, but cannabis had already been uniformly regulated as a drug since the mid-‘30s. Over 100 distinct cannabinoids have been discovered since THC was first isolated and characterized, but their real-world medicinal value has been difficult to qualify since the drug was officially banned by the Supreme Court of the United States with the introduction of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970.

Although the U.S. continues to condemn cannabis consumption at the federal level, 33 states have now legalized it for medical purposes and 21 states have decriminalized it for recreational uses. Hemp has also been legalized nationwide, thanks to the bipartisan Farm Bill of 2018. Couple these sweeping regulatory changes with the dramatic shift in public opinion on cannabis decriminalization (62% of U.S. adults now support cannabis legalization), and it appears as though the days of prohibition are numbered. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to advise caution regarding cannabinoid-based products and promises to evaluate the safety and science of cannabis consumption in this changing landscape. HPLC is pivotal in undoing the ongoing stigma of cannabis in commercial and medical applications.

Outlining HPLC Cannabis & Hemp Analysis

HPLC is used to separate a sample into its individual components based on its physicochemical properties (chemistry, molecular weight, etc.). A typical HPLC arrangement requires a solvent, inline degasser, HPLC pump, injection valve, HPLC column, column oven, UV detector, and chromatography software. This technique has traditionally been limited to benchtop analysis, but this has not inhibited the use of HPLC in cannabis and hemp analysis. Samples can easily be transported to analytical facilities to inform optimal harvest times, for testing of finished products, or at any stage in between.

The technology remains the gold standard for cannabis potency and purity testing, although the instrumentation can only be operated by highly-trained personnel. There may also be a delay in acquiring data as samples are transported from the farm or dispensary to the HPLC laboratory.

Icon Scientific has developed the ideal solution to required third-party testing for cannabinoid potency and purity. The ANSER is a field-portable and user-friendly HPLC system designed for professionals in the cannabis and hemp sector, rather than scientists. Growers and processors alike can operate the ANSER HPLC system with ease, whether they are testing for maximum THC concentration, cannabinol (CBD) purity, or downstream quality control of cannabinoid products comprised of various cannabinoids of interest, including:

• CBD or cannabidivarin (CBDV)
• Cannabichromene (CBC)
• Cannabinol (CBN)
• Cannabigerol (CBG) or cannabigerovarin (CBGV)
• THC or tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)

If you would like any more information about the ANSER HPLC system for cannabis and hemp analysis, including pricing, simply contact a member of the Icon Scientific team today.

References:

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/111015/future-marijuana-industry-america.asp 

https://www.dea.gov/controlled-substances-act

https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1?r=US&IR=T

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/08/americans-support-marijuana-legalization/

The post Using HPLC as a Cannabis & Hemp Analyzer appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

Our miniaturized systems are capable of running the same columns and methods that you are currently running on your traditional laboratory HPLC. Icon Scientific’s ANSER is the only HPLC capable of direct method transfer.

HPLC and UHPLC are traditionally large and cumbersome, weighing in at about 100 pounds. Companies have attempted to make HPLC systems transportable by stacking the components on large steel carts and pushing them as close as possible to reactors or to MS’s. ICON Scientific’s ANSER is a fraction of the size of a traditional HPLC without compromising flexibility or performance!

The ANSER miniaturized HPLC is fully configurable. You can choose between:

• Back pressure capability:
  UHPLC
  HPLC
• Pumping Modes:
  Isocratic
  High- pressure binary gradient
  Low- pressure binary or quaternary gradient
• Detection modes:
  LED- single or dual wavelength
  Variable wavelength UV/VIS
  Multi-wavelength UV/VIS
  Diode Array detection
  Refractive index detection
• Injection modes:
  Manual valve
  Automated valve

Operated by industry standard Clarity Software. A battery powered option is available for field use.

Application areas include but are not limited to:

• On-line reaction monitoring
• At-line reaction monitoring
• Oil and Gas industry
• Biofuels
• Metal deactivator additive in aviation fuels
• Q.C. of beverages
• Field monitoring for exact time of harvest for Cannabis and Hemp
• Cannabis and Hemp potency analyzer
• Your application awaits development
  Let ICON Scientific’s ANSER be your ANSWER!

The post Icon Scientific’s new MINIATURIZED ANSER HPLC SYSTEM appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..

Many U.S. states are legalizing the use of cannabis for either medical and/or “adult” recreational use.

Cannabis testing is becoming critically important and an integral part of being able to determine product potency and safety.

HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) is the industry standard or gold standard for cannabinoid potency testing. It is the most accurate and reliable method to measure cannabis components.

ICON Scientific’s ANSER is your solution for cannabis potency and purity testing. The ANSER is an HPLC based analyzer. We are committed to supplying growers, processors, dispensaries and product developers with HPLC solutions for cannabis and hemp analysis.

The ANSER is a field portable, easy-to-use potency and purity analyzer for the cannabis and hemp industry. No scientific understanding is necessary to operate this analyzer. The ANSER is always accurate and reproducible. This shoe box sized, field portable unit allows you to test the potency of samples in the field or in the lab.

The ANSER is not only portable, but a miniaturized, turn-key HPLC solution. It has all the performance without the size. The ANSER is quick and easy to use and is designed for an inexperienced user. The ANSER includes a column, mobile phase, certified standards and methods.

In most states, cannabinoid regulations require third party testing to certify potency and purity. The ANSER analyzer provides an immediate answer. Traditional laboratory testing will confirm what you already know.

ICON SCIENTIFIC, Inc. Introduces...

The first and only miniaturized, portable HPLC based cannabis and hemp potency analyzer.

You can now be free of a traditional laboratory and operate the ANSER anywhere you need to with our battery pack option.

Intuitive software control allows the non-chromatographer to operate and easily evaluate his data.

We supply methods:

1. For maximum THC concentrations to enable growers to know exactly when to harvest their plants.
2. For purity of CBD. To ensure there is no THC in your CBD product.
3. For purity of THC.
4. Testing of incoming THC or CBD before final product is produced.
5. Testing of finished product for either CBD or THC.

HPLC stands for high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC is used for the identification and/or quantification when determining the potency of cannabinoid components. Potency analysis identifies compounds and measures their “potency”, level of strength. Cannabis is made up of 500 or more chemical components. Those most commonly tested for are:

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), CBD (Cannabidiol), CBDV (Cannabidivarin), CBC (Cannabichromene), CBN (Cannabinol), CBG (Cannabigerol), and CBGV (Cannabigerivarin).

Cannabinoids need to be potency screened at every step for different reasons. Screening begins in the fields, that is why our ANSER field portable analyzer is so valuable to farmers. Growers require accurate potency screening. They need to accurately time harvests, determine the proper profile of the strain and accurately label it. Accurate labeling is essential at all levels therefore precise potency screening is valuable to growers, processors and dispensaries. When cannabinoid components are used for medical treatment it is crucial to know the exact components, potency and purity to ensure accurate labeling.

HPLC can test plants in the field, edibles and liquids. This is because samples can be tested at lower temperatures than with GC. Using GC heat catalyzed reactions occur. Therefore, HPLC is the “gold standard” for potency testing of cannabis. ICON’s field portable ANSER HPLC analyzer is a simple way for cannabis and hemp professionals to test at every level.

Icon Scientific, Inc. does not support or promote the use of its products or services in connection with illegal use, cultivation or trade of cannabis products. Icon Scientific, Inc. does not condone the use of recreational or medical marijuana, we are merely offering a market analyzer to the cannabis testing industry. Icon Scientific’s products are intended to be used only for research purposes or state approved medical research.

• Turn-key HPLC Solution
• FAST- a Cannabinoid a minute
• Same accuracy and reproducibly as a much larger laboratory HPLC
• HPLC is the “gold-standard” for cannabis potency testing
• Non-chromatographer can operate
• Portable
• Enables you to increase quality, consistency, and consumer safety
• No compromise in quality or performance

…ICON Scientific has the ANSER!

Strains Containing High CBD to THC Ratios

ACDC:source: Colorado Alternative Health

One of the most popular phenotypes of Cannatonic, ACDC contains only a minute amount of THC with a ratio of 20:1. This high CBD strain produces virtually no psychoactive effect at all, however, the benefits can help treat a variety of conditions including pain, anxiety, epilepsy, MS, and many others. This pheno provides a relaxed, happy effect which provides clarity and focus while helping alleviate chronic

 symptoms. The super low THC content makes this an excellent choice for consumers who need a functional daytime symptom relief.

Harle Tsu: source: Lost Coast Botanicals

What happens when you cross two powerful high CBD strains? Harle Tsu is the flower child of a Harlequin clone and Sour Tsunami male which is now bred Harle-Tsu x Harle-Tsu to produce a consistent expression of the CBD phenotype. Also, a product of the Southern Humboldt Seed Collective this strain has won multiple awards at the Emerald Cup. CBD levels can reach up to 20% with less than 1% THC, making this strain completely non-psychoactive.

Suzy Q: source: Master Thai’s Organic Gardens & Seeds

Burning Bush Nurseries offers seeds for this powerhouse of CBD goodness. With a whopping 59:1 CBD to THC ratio, there’s little to no chance of experiencing any type of psychoactive effect from this strain. Grown simply from what they call “Northern California Landrace Genetics” the lineage of this strain is relatively guarded. Nobody knows where it came from, or what went into it. Boasting of 15% CBD to less than .25% THC, Suzy Q has the potential to be a powerful medicine without the high.

Charlotte’s Web:source: Leafly

A 20:1 CBD to THC product of the Stanley Brothers, is said to be produced through selective breeding of multiple strains including Harlequin, Sour Tsunami, and R4, a legendary CBD strain created by crossing Blueberry Haze and WU #1. Originally named “Hippie’s Disappointment” because of the low THC content, Charlotte’s Web was renamed after the little girl who helped bring cannabis as a medicine to mainstream media in 2003, Charlotte Figi.

Haleigh’s Hope: source: Leafly

A strain created after 7 years of selective breeding by botanist Jason Cranford, provides CBD oils in concentrations of 30:1, 20:1, 15:1, and 10:1. Although the exact genetics of Haleigh’s Hope is guarded, the Flowering HOPE Foundation helps to provide low-cost or no-cost Haleigh’s Hope tinctures to families in need. This strain was also named after a young girl with cerebral palsy and intractable epilepsy.

 

 

The post The ANSER™ Cannabis & Hemp Analyzer appeared first on Icon Scientific Inc..