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CEREX TECHNOLOGY Cerex ® is a patented manufacturing technology that enables creation of very high performance solid phase extraction (SPE) columns. Cerex technology provides for the use of microparticulate sorbents in the SPE column, typically in the 10μm particle size range, as compared to the 40μm particle size range used by most commercial suppliers. Micro particulate sorbents offer tangible and significant benefits compared to larger particle sorbents; specifically, very high capture efficiency. 
Capture efficiency refers to the ability of a SPE device to effectively retain, or "trap" desired analytes from the applied sample. Regardless of the chemical affinity of the sorbent for the analyte species, SPE products that use large particle sorbents may exhibit significant analyte breakthrough during sample application. This is caused by the relatively large flow paths between sorbent particles, allowing analytes to bypass contact with the sorbent, thus obviating retention (Figure 1).
In contrast, Cerex microparticulate sorbents contain much smaller flow paths, ensuring contact with the sorbent as the analyte molecules pass through the sorbent bed....continued upper right
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This results in more efficient and consistent analyte trapping, leading to higher analyte recoveries and more reproducible results (Figure 2).A simple loading experiment demonstrates the difference between Cerex microparticulate SPE and an conventional product containing 40μm sorbent, using surface-matched sorbent chemistries (Figure 3). Breakthrough of a UV-Absorbing analyte from each respective SPE column is measured using a conventional UV detector. The trace begins with the SPE column bypassed; therefore, the detector signal reflects the level of analyte in the loading solvent. 
As the cartridge is placed into the sample stream, absorbance drops initially, and then recovers as analyte "breaks through" the column. Note that the Cerex column captures roughly 4 times the analyte quantify as the 40μm column before breakthrough, and reaches total saturation capacity immediately thereafter, as seen by rapid recovery...continued below left
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of the detector signal to initial conditions. In contrast, the 40μm SPE product never reaches saturation capacity, even after many minutes of sample loading. This high capture effect allows the use of much smaller bed sizes in Cerex columns compared to conventional sorbents. For example, as 35mg or even a 20mg Cerex column typically exhibits the same effective capacity as a 100mg, 40μm SPE product. And use of smaller sorbent beds allows for commensurately smaller analyte elution volume is in addition to the narrower analyte band width for smaller particles (Figure 4). 
PRODUCT SELECTIONCerex SPE products are available in a wide range of sorbent chemistries and configurations. |
The Cerex chemistry range includes non-polar, polar and ion-exchange sorbents based on silica substrate. For mixed-mode extraction, silica-based blended phases are available in a selection of both non-polar/cation exchange and non-polar/anion-exchange chemistries. In addition, a selection of water-wettable polymer-based sorbents with non-polar, ion-exchange and mixed mode characteristics complements the silica-based products.
Column formats offered include standard syringe-barrel tubes with luer-tips in the most widely used sizes (for example, 1, 3, 6, and 15 cc tubes). In 96-well formats, both "integrated" (single plate) and "modular" (base plate plus plug-in columns) formats are available to accommodate specific user applications.Column bed sizes range from 10mg up to gram scale in the largest columns. |
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