ISOLUTE® SPE Columns and Plates

Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) is a sample preparation technique used to isolate (purify) and/or concentrate (trace enrich) analytes. The range of possible analytes and matrices is vast. The ISOLUTE® range of SPE sorbents and formats offers the scientist the breadth of choice needed to develop an optimised solution to a multitude of challenging sample preparation problems.

ISOLUTE® sorbents are available packed into a range of columns and plate formats.

SPE columns are available with reservoir volumes ranging from 1 mL to 70 mL, with tabless options for automation compatibility, and options for high sensitivity analyses.

ISOLUTE® SPE products are manufactured to the highest quality standards. State of the art manufacturing techniques are supported by a comprehensive Quality Control testing program, documented under our ISO 9001:2008 registered Quality Management System.

96-well plate options

96-well SPE plates are available in two types, the industry standard ISOLUTE-96 (fixed well plate) style, and the modular ISOLUTE Array design.  96-well plates are generally used to extract samples of up 1-2 mL in volume.

Use ISOLUTE® 96 fixed well plates (2 mL/well) for applications where high numbers of samples are routinely analysed. ISOLUTE-96 plates can be processed using vacuum or positive pressure manifold systems, and are compatible with popular automation systems.  

ISOLUTE® Array modular plates (1 or 2 mL/well) can be ordered pre-assembled with 96 sorbent filled wells, or wells can be purchased separately, and base plates can be populated with as many or as few wells as required. Use ISOLUTE Array plates when developing a new method, or when sample numbers less than 96 are routinely analysed. Seal unused positions with sealing strips. Convert Array wells for use on luer fittings using adaptors.

SPE Column Options

ISOLUTE® SPE sorbents are available packed into columns ranging from 1 to 70 mL reservoir volume. They can be processed using vacuum or positive pressure, with both manual and automated systems.

All ISOLUTE® columns have industry standard Luer outlets, ensuring compatibility with vacuum manifolds and other processing systems.

For many ISOLUTE® columns, the same sorbent mass can be purchased in different sized columns. This provides flexibility in method devlopment and automation compatibility. 

Tabless versions of the 1, 3 and 6 mL columns are available to meet specific automation system requirements.

High sensitivity options

Manufactured using high grade polypropylene, and fitted with polyethylene frits as standard, ISOLUTE® SPE columns have high levels of cleanliness, to prevent extract contamination.  For higher sensitivity analysis, columns are available fitted with stainles steel frits (1,3 and 6 mL only).

Alternatively, selected sorbents are available packed in to glass columns (6 mL only) fitted with PTFE frits.

Sorbent Chemistry

A wide range of sorbent chemistries is included in the ISOLUTE® SPE product range. In order to simplify the choice of SPE approach, ISOLUTE® sorbents are grouped into four main types, based on their retention mechanism:

• non-polar (hydophobic or reversed phase),
• mixed-mode (combining non-polar and ion exchange)
• ion exchange (both weak and strong anion and cation exchange options)
• polar

In addition, a number of speciality and application specific phases are available.

ISOLUTE sorbents are available packed into a range of columns and plate formats. 96-well plates come in two types, the industry standard ISOLUTE-96 (fixed well plate) style, and the modular ISOLUTE Array design.  

SPE columns are available with reservoir volumes ranging from 1 mL to 70 mL, with tabless options for automation compatibility, and options for high sensitivity analyses.

ISOLUTE SPE products are manufactured to the highest quality standards. State of the art manufacturing techniques are supported by a comprehensive Quality Control testing program, documented under our ISO 9001:2008 registered Quality Management System.

ISOLUTE® SPE Sorbent Chemistry

ISOLUTE® Non-Polar Sorbents

• ENV+
• 101
• C18
• C18(EC)
• MFC18
• C8
• C8(EC)
• C4
• C2
• C2(EC)
• PH
• CN

ISOLUTE® non-polar sorbents provide hydrophobic (reversed phase) interactions and are usually used to extract a range of analytes with some hydrophobic character from aqueous sample matrices. They sorbents range from the highly retentive ISOLUTE ENV+ through to the less retentive C2. Choose highly retentive sporbents to extract more polar analytes, and less retentive phases to extract more hydrophobic analytes. 

Silica based non-polar sorbents are available in both non-endcapped* and, in certain cases, endcapped versions, to meet the needs of particular applications.  Non-end capped sorbents are particularly useful when utilizing secondary silanol interactions for extraction of basic compounds.

*Endcapping is a chemical process used to reduce the concentration of silanol groups on the surface of bonded  silica particles.  Silanol groups povide polar and weak cation echange secondary interactions, which can be expolited to increase recovery and extract cleanliness for basic analytes.

ISOLUTE® Mixed-Mode Sorbents

• HCX (combines non-polar and strong cation exchange)
• HCX-3 (combines non-polar and strong cation exchange)
• HCX-5 (combines non-polar and strong cation exchange)
• HCX-Q (combines non-polar and weak cation exchange)
• HAX (combines non-polar and strong anion exchange)
• Multimode (combines non-polar, strong cation and anion exchange)

Use mixed-mode sorbents to extrct acidic or basic analytes from complex matrices such as biological fluids using a dual retention mechanism.  Mixed-mode sorbents provide two primary retention mechanisms: non-polar (hydrophobic) and anion exchange (anion or cation).  The dual retention mechansims allow the use of rigorous interference elution regimes, providing extremely clean extracts and reducing matrix effects in LC-MS/MS analysis.

ISOLUTE® Ion Exchange Sorbents

• SCX-2
• SCX-3
• CBA
• SAX,
• PEAX
• NH2
• PSA

Isolate ionizable (acidic or basic) analytes from aqueous or partially aqueous samples using ion exchange retention mechanisms.   

Cation exchange sorbents contain acidic groups that can be used to retain basic analytes.  Stong cation exchange sorbents (such as ISOLUTE® SCX-2 and SCX-3) contain sulfonic acid groups that maintain a permanent negative charge under all pH conditions.

Weak cation exchange sorbents (such as ISOLUTE® CBA) contain carboxylic acid groups that have a negative charge under some pH conditions, and are neutralized at low pH.

Anion exchange sorbents contain basic groups that can be used to retain acidic analytes.  Stong anion exchange sorbents (such as ISOLUTE® SAX and PE-AX) contain quaternary amine groups that maintain a permanent positive charge under all pH conditions.

Weak anion exchange sorbents (such as ISOLUTE® NH2 and PSA) contain primary or secondary amine groups that have a positive charge charge under some pH conditions, and are neutralized at low pH.

ISOLUTE® Polar Sorbents

• SI
• DIOL
• FL (Florisil PR grade)
• ALUMINA (acid, neutral, basic)
• CN
• NH2
• PSA

Polar SPE sorbents are used to isolate polar analytes or remove interferences from non-polar sample matrices using polar retention mechanisms (e.g. hydrogen bonding or dipole-dipole interactions).  Note that some sorbents (ISOLUTE® CN, NH2 and PSA) can also be used in other retention modes.

Speciality and Application Specific Products

• ISOLUTE Myco
• ISOLUTE EPH
• ISOLUTE Layered columns
• ISOLUTE PAH
• ISOLUTE SAX/PSA
• ISOLUTE TPH
• ISOLUTE O&G
• ISOLUTE Na₂SO₄/Fl

See individual product pages for more information.