SOMERSET, N.J. — A new class of chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for analytical and preparative-scale high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ZirChrom(R)-Chiral, will be introduced by ZirChrom Separations, Inc. at the Eastern Analytical Symposium 2005 Trade Show in Somerset, NJ. These new patent-pending CSPs incorporate the unsurpassed chemical and mechanical stability of zirconia with the flexibility of Lewis acid/base anchored chiral selectors. ZirChrom will introduce five new CSPs at the Garden State Convention Center, Booth #220 from November 14-16.

In recent years, HPLC has become the dominant method for the analytical and preparative separation of chiral pharmaceuticals. However, until now, no CSP used zirconia or other inorganic oxides other than silica as a substrate. Zirconia has many attractive properties for HPLC, including spherical particle shape and narrow size distribution. Additionally, it exhibits unsurpassed chemical and mechanical stability. Its surface chemistry is very different from silica gel due to the presence of a high population of strong Lewis acid (Zr+4) sites. The synthesis of the ZirChrom(R)-Chiral phases capitalizes on the presence of Lewis acid sites on the surface of the zirconia to provide a more robust and chemically flexible platform for CSP design.

The new ZirChrom(R)-Chiral CSPs were developed as part of an ongoing, two- year Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) research project funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institute of Health. The goal of this SBIR project is to develop a rapid screening technique for the evaluation of chiral selectors anchored to a zirconia particle.

About ZirChrom Separations

ZirChrom Separations, Inc. is a company formed in 1995 and located in Anoka, Minnesota. ZirChrom manufactures a full line of zirconia-based high performance chromatographic materials for analysis and purification by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).