Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) is not only a burgeoning analytical technique, but is developing into a significant tool for purification applications. The inherent qualities of the SFC technique, combined with recent technological improvements, now make it a viable commercial separation method. Although it is still a niche product, purification SFC has a large unrealized potential.

SFC was initially developed in the 1980s, based around existing capillary LC columns. These early systems proved unreliable and impractical, nearly killing off the SFC market. Then came Tony Berger, who established Berger Instruments. Mr. Berger developed packed-column SFC specifically for the rapidly growing pharmaceutical industry, as opposed to the petroleum industry, which was the target market for earlier failures. Improved fraction collection and pressure management technology were also key factors in giving rise to what is now an established SFC market.

SFC possesses a number of advantages over other chromatographic and separation technologies. Supercritical fluids posses the solvating strength of many organic solvents, but have higher diffusivity, lower viscosity and lower surface tension, all of which are major advantages in chromatography. In addition, SFC combines liquid-like solubility with the ability to utilize gas phase detectors, such as flame ionization detection.

The solvent typically used in SFC is carbon dioxide, which is nontoxic, and therefore eliminates the health and environmental issues associated with clean up and disposal. CO2 is also advantageous when working with products for potential human consumption. Another advantage is the ease of separation of the compound of interest following separation.

These benefits are magnified for larger-scale preparative and process SFC systems. Although the first development of SFC was in the analytical area, it quickly became used in preparative- and process-scale systems. Such systems range in production capacity from milligrams to several kilograms. The advantages in efficiency with SFC means less usage of stationary phases, which are often the primary cost driver, especially for chiral stationary phases.

The market for preparative and process SFC in 2009 is expected to top $20 million, and should experience strong double-digit annual growth for some years to come. Despite SFC’s great potential for many applications, the limited number of scientists and engineers with expertise in SFC has prevented a rapid take-off in demand, but may in fact be resulting in a more consistent pace of annual growth.

The competitive landscape has changed in the past two years as well, with Thar Technologies’ acquisition of Berger Instruments from Mettler-Toledo in 2007 (see IBO 7/15/07), and Waters’s subsequent acquisition of Thar Technologies earlier this year (see IBO 2/15/09).

Supercritical Fluid Chromatography at a Glance:

Leading Suppliers

• Jasco

• Novasep

• Waters (Thar)

Largest Markets

• Pharmaceutical

• Agriculture

• Biofuels

Instrument Cost

• $40,000–$100,000