Equipment Investment Strengthens Biotechnology Analysis Work

State-of-the-art Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MPAES) apparatus has been installed at CPI’s facility at Wilton, Redcar.

The equipment vastly accelerates analysis time and productivity, with testing in some cases up to six times faster than previous techniques.

Bought as part of the ERDF-funded ​‘IBB Scale Up Capability Programme’, the MPAES improves understanding of metal and element concentration in samples by exciting nitrogen molecules.

The process gives out a light that indicates the level of metals and their concentration, which helps with work including the monitoring of metal leeching through tin cans’ protective coating.

The equipment has multiple uses and builds on existing innovative analytical work, which includes the SeaGas project that is assessing the viability of farming sugar kelp for bioenergy production by anaerobic digestion.

“Analytics underpin the work that CPI performs, and we are looking to create a more integrated approach,” said Scott Harrison, CPI Principal Scientist — Analytical Development.

“This equipment will strengthen some of the work that will be going on at CPI for clients across our business.”

The new equipment bolsters CPI’s analytical services which provides a wide range of support and advice on chemical issues, method development and sample analysis. 

The new equipment further strengthens CPI’s analytical services which provides a wide range of support and advice on chemical issues, method development and sample analysis. 

CPI provides an end-to-end service, from consultancy on appropriate analytical techniques during early customer project discussions to helping put analytical data into context during and at the end of a project.

Techniques include Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionisation Detection; Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry; Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detector and Charged Aerosol Detector; and Ion Chromatography.