Rapid, low-energy solid-phase extraction using tunable mesoporous starbons
Starbons offers a rapid, low-energy solid-phase extraction solution using tunable mesoporous materials to selectively isolate compounds from complex mixtures, enhancing efficiency in industries like pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
Overview
Starbons presents an innovative solid-phase extraction (SPE) technology utilizing tunable mesoporous materials to selectively isolate organic compounds from complex mixtures. This process leverages hierarchical porosity and adjustable surface chemistry to enhance the capture and release of target entities, making it ideal for pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications. The ability to selectively adsorb and desorb compounds like pharmaceutical ingredients from mixtures, as demonstrated in cannabinoid isolation from hemp extract, highlights its potential for efficient, low-energy extraction processes.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Utilizes mesoporous materials (2-50nm) with hierarchical porosity for selective compound isolation
- Adjustable surface chemistry to optimize adsorption and desorption processes
- Proven applications in isolating cannabinoids, water-soluble compounds from algae, and chemotherapy drugs from fermentation media
This technology allows for the precise selection of solvents and Starbon materials to achieve efficient extraction, offering a tailored approach to complex mixture separation.
Technology readiness level
Currently at TRL 4, the technology has been validated in laboratory settings with plans for further validation at a multi-gram scale. Future steps include collaboration with academic partners for rapid screening and industrial scale system design for broader application.
About Starbons Limited
Starbons Limited is a chemical manufacturing company that develops patented, bio-based mesoporous materials known as Starbons. These materials are derived from biorenewable polysaccharides, such as starch, alginic acid, and pectin, through a carbonization process that fixes their structure and enables a long shelf life. Often described as a solid sponge, these materials possess high surface areas and tuneable surface functionalities, ranging from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. This technology allows for the selective capture and release of specific compounds, offering a sustainable, biodegradable, and non-toxic alternative to conventional separation systems.
The company provides tailored technical solutions to meet specific customer separation needs across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, home and personal care, and environmental management. Applications range from isolating active pharmaceutical ingredients from complex mixtures to metal extraction, de-odourization, and toxic gas capture. By working closely with customers to customize surface properties, Starbons aims to simplify complex industrial processes, such as the efficient extraction of cannabinoids. Originally established in 2012 as a spin-out from the University of York’s Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, the company transitioned into an independent, privately-owned business in 2017.
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