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Bio-molecular quantitation system offers many advantages over conventional assays
NEWS be able to provide 40 000 tons of high-quality drinking water per day to meet local needs. Contacts: The Dow Chemical Co, Dow Water & Process Solutions, Customer Information Center, PO Box 1206, Midland, MI 48642-1206, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 9086, www.dowwaterandprocess.com, www.dow.com Shenzhen Water (Group) Co Ltd, 27th floor, Water Building, 1019 Shennan Road, Shenzhen, China 518031. Tel: +86 755 8213 7618
Bio-molecular quantitation system offers many advantages over conventional assays
E
MD Millipore, the life science division of Germany’s Merck KgaA, has launched the Direct Detect system for rapid, simplified protein quantitation. The company says that the system exploits its expertise in membrane technology to enable infrared-based measurement of amide bonds in protein chains – intrinsic components of every protein – without relying on amino acid composition, dye-binding properties, or redox potential. Conventional assays based on ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy rely on absorbance by a protein’s aromatic amino acids and therefore have limited use. ‘In addition to its analytical powers the Direct Detect system provides a groundbreaking departure from traditional sample preparation requirements typical of bio-molecular quantitation. After samples are spotted on assay cards they can be stored in ambient conditions without appreciable change in readout,’ explained John Sweeney, who is head of EMD Millipore’s life science business. ‘Another advantage over conventional assays is that the Direct Detect calibration standard curve needs to be generated once, which provides additional time savings and ease-of-use.’ The system employs a hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane designed to be transparent for most of the infrared spectral region. In addition, bio-molecule solutions can be applied directly onto the membrane. The system delivers more universally applicable and faster protein quantitation, requiring minimal sample consumption, says the firm. System accuracy and precision are comparable with results obtained by amino acid analysis – an accurate standard for quantitation, yet can be time-consuming and often costly.
May 2012
Because the system relies on infrared-based detection of bio-molecules, users can obtain accurate and reproducible protein quantitation in the presence of reducing agents and detergents. As a result it can measure protein concentrations of 0.2–5 mg/ml within seconds, without any bio- or immunochemical staining, directly from samples, including buffered solutions. The system also can be used to provide information on non-protein sample components, such as lipids and nucleic acids. Contacts: EMD Millipore, 290 Concord Road, Billerica, MA 01821, USA. Tel: +1 978 715 4321, www.millipore.com Merck KgaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany. Tel: +49 6151 720, www.merck.de
Installation reduces turbidity and total organic carbon
T
he High Point Water Treatment Plant, based near Henager, Alabama, USA, is using critical equipment from WesTech Engineering Inc to reduce turbidity and total organic carbon (TOC), improve water quality and simplify operations and maintenance. Northeast Alabama Water District (NEAW) services 15 200 connections within a large distribution area of 5315 km2 (2052 square miles). An increasing population has expanded the service area and water demand, creating the need for a larger water treatment facility. To increase capacity and bring water treatment closer to its residents, NEAW constructed the High Point Water Treatment Plant. High Point receives its raw water indirectly from the Tennessee River. Water is pumped 13 km (5 miles) over 213 m (700 ft) in elevation to a 15 900-m3 (4.2-million-gallon) storage reservoir at the plant location. Managing disinfection by-products (DBPs) within this large distribution area is difficult at best. Long chlorine contact times, dead zones and regrowth contribute to high DBP levels. After completing a comprehensive study, engineers selected enhanced coagulation and membrane filtration – specifically solids contact clarifiers and ultrafiltration (UF) – as the best method to treat the water. WesTech was contracted to supply the process equipment for use in the facility. Through TOC removal the High Point Plant has seen reduced DBP production mainly because of the effective-
In Brief Ruby Chandy joins Pall Corp US-based filtration, separation and purification company Pall Corp has added another seasoned executive to its management ranks. Ruby Chandy has joined the firm as the president of its industrial business. Pall Industrial represents approximately half of the company’s revenue. Chandy has held leadership positions at Dow Chemical Co, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Millipore Corp and McKinsey & Co, in a career spanning over 25 years. Most recently she led the Dow Plastics Additives business, and previously was Chief Marketing Officer, Dow Chemical. Novasep opens expanded facility in China to meet increasing demand French company Novasep, which supplies manufacturing technology to the life science industry, has opened a 2000-m2 (21 500-ft2) facility in Shanghai Pudong district, China. The site will boost the firm’s process development and engineering capabilities to cater for ever-increasing demand in China and East Asia. The company says that it has seen continued growth in demand in the region for its purification technologies and integrated processes in batch and continuous membrane filtration, ion exchange and chromatography. ItN Nanovation announces comprehensive repositioning programme The board of directors of Nanostart Ag’s German company ItN Nanovation Ag – which recently received a shareholder loan to secure medium-term financing – is to implement a comprehensive repositioning programme. ItN Nanovation says that it will now focus on the promising growth area of water filtration. Emphasis will be placed on existing groundwater filtration and wastewater treatment activities. The programme also reduces the workforce from 62 to 37 employees. Xylem opens distribution and customer service base in Moscow Water technology company Xylem Inc of White Plains, New York, USA, has opened a distribution and customer service base in Moscow, Russia. Part of a long-term growth strategy, Xylem’s expanded presence in Russia will focus on boosting sales and distribution in the country, enhancing relationships with Russian customers and deliver local customer service, after-sales support, application engineering and training. ‘This new base in Moscow enables Xylem to offer wastewater and clean water pumping products and systems to the Russian market,’ said André Dhawan, Vice President and General Manager, Residential and Commercial Water, Xylem, Europe.
Membrane Technology
5
Bio-molecular quantitation system offers many advantages over conventional assays
E
MD Millipore, the life science division of Germany’s Merck KgaA, has launched the Direct Detect system for rapid, simplified protein quantitation. The company says that the system exploits its expertise in membrane technology to enable infrared-based measurement of amide bonds in protein chains – intrinsic components of every protein – without relying on amino acid composition, dye-binding properties, or redox potential. Conventional assays based on ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy rely on absorbance by a protein’s aromatic amino acids and therefore have limited use. ‘In addition to its analytical powers the Direct Detect system provides a groundbreaking departure from traditional sample preparation requirements typical of bio-molecular quantitation. After samples are spotted on assay cards they can be stored in ambient conditions without appreciable change in readout,’ explained John Sweeney, who is head of EMD Millipore’s life science business. ‘Another advantage over conventional assays is that the Direct Detect calibration standard curve needs to be generated once, which provides additional time savings and ease-of-use.’ The system employs a hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane designed to be transparent for most of the infrared spectral region. In addition, bio-molecule solutions can be applied directly onto the membrane. The system delivers more universally applicable and faster protein quantitation, requiring minimal sample consumption, says the firm. System accuracy and precision are comparable with results obtained by amino acid analysis – an accurate standard for quantitation, yet can be time-consuming and often costly.
May 2012
Because the system relies on infrared-based detection of bio-molecules, users can obtain accurate and reproducible protein quantitation in the presence of reducing agents and detergents. As a result it can measure protein concentrations of 0.2–5 mg/ml within seconds, without any bio- or immunochemical staining, directly from samples, including buffered solutions. The system also can be used to provide information on non-protein sample components, such as lipids and nucleic acids. Contacts: EMD Millipore, 290 Concord Road, Billerica, MA 01821, USA. Tel: +1 978 715 4321, www.millipore.com Merck KgaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany. Tel: +49 6151 720, www.merck.de
Installation reduces turbidity and total organic carbon
T
he High Point Water Treatment Plant, based near Henager, Alabama, USA, is using critical equipment from WesTech Engineering Inc to reduce turbidity and total organic carbon (TOC), improve water quality and simplify operations and maintenance. Northeast Alabama Water District (NEAW) services 15 200 connections within a large distribution area of 5315 km2 (2052 square miles). An increasing population has expanded the service area and water demand, creating the need for a larger water treatment facility. To increase capacity and bring water treatment closer to its residents, NEAW constructed the High Point Water Treatment Plant. High Point receives its raw water indirectly from the Tennessee River. Water is pumped 13 km (5 miles) over 213 m (700 ft) in elevation to a 15 900-m3 (4.2-million-gallon) storage reservoir at the plant location. Managing disinfection by-products (DBPs) within this large distribution area is difficult at best. Long chlorine contact times, dead zones and regrowth contribute to high DBP levels. After completing a comprehensive study, engineers selected enhanced coagulation and membrane filtration – specifically solids contact clarifiers and ultrafiltration (UF) – as the best method to treat the water. WesTech was contracted to supply the process equipment for use in the facility. Through TOC removal the High Point Plant has seen reduced DBP production mainly because of the effective-
In Brief Ruby Chandy joins Pall Corp US-based filtration, separation and purification company Pall Corp has added another seasoned executive to its management ranks. Ruby Chandy has joined the firm as the president of its industrial business. Pall Industrial represents approximately half of the company’s revenue. Chandy has held leadership positions at Dow Chemical Co, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Millipore Corp and McKinsey & Co, in a career spanning over 25 years. Most recently she led the Dow Plastics Additives business, and previously was Chief Marketing Officer, Dow Chemical. Novasep opens expanded facility in China to meet increasing demand French company Novasep, which supplies manufacturing technology to the life science industry, has opened a 2000-m2 (21 500-ft2) facility in Shanghai Pudong district, China. The site will boost the firm’s process development and engineering capabilities to cater for ever-increasing demand in China and East Asia. The company says that it has seen continued growth in demand in the region for its purification technologies and integrated processes in batch and continuous membrane filtration, ion exchange and chromatography. ItN Nanovation announces comprehensive repositioning programme The board of directors of Nanostart Ag’s German company ItN Nanovation Ag – which recently received a shareholder loan to secure medium-term financing – is to implement a comprehensive repositioning programme. ItN Nanovation says that it will now focus on the promising growth area of water filtration. Emphasis will be placed on existing groundwater filtration and wastewater treatment activities. The programme also reduces the workforce from 62 to 37 employees. Xylem opens distribution and customer service base in Moscow Water technology company Xylem Inc of White Plains, New York, USA, has opened a distribution and customer service base in Moscow, Russia. Part of a long-term growth strategy, Xylem’s expanded presence in Russia will focus on boosting sales and distribution in the country, enhancing relationships with Russian customers and deliver local customer service, after-sales support, application engineering and training. ‘This new base in Moscow enables Xylem to offer wastewater and clean water pumping products and systems to the Russian market,’ said André Dhawan, Vice President and General Manager, Residential and Commercial Water, Xylem, Europe.
Membrane Technology
5