• RotaChrom CPC Instruments & Solutions
  • Technology
  • About Us
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Webinars
  • Podcasts
  • Pressroom
  • Contact
Here you can see the logo of RotaChrom Technologies.
Here you can see the logo of RotaChrom Technologies.
  • Products
    • CPC Modeler
    • GMP rCPC
    • rCPC
    • iCPC
    • Continuous CPC
    • pCPC
    • SKIDS
  • Pricing
  • Technology
  • Applications
    • Pharma and biotech
    • Cosmetics and Fragrances
    • Food and Beverages
    • Botanical applications
  • Calculator
  • Company
    • About Us
    • Events
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Webinars
    • Publications
    • Pressroom
    • FAQ
    • Podcasts
  • Contact
    • Career
    • Contact
    • Book a meeting

Flash vs CPC: A Comparative Analysis

rCPC Technology Page Banner for CPC
December 22, 2022
In Education, News
Share via Share via Share via Share via

Since the earliest days of chromatographic methodologies emerging, novel techniques have been developed that all offer various benefits to their users. Numerous different techniques exist for material purification, and it can seem overwhelming to understand all the different methods in existence. Flash chromatography has been a staple in material purification for many years. While flash chromatography is a reliable and widely used method, there may be other techniques that offer additional benefits for specific businesses.

CPC vs Flash Chromatography

There are several questions you need to ask when selecting the right purification method:

  • Efficiency: How quickly can the desired compounds be separated and purified?
  • Cost: Is the method cost-effective, both in terms of the equipment needed and the amount of solvents and other consumables used?
  • Scale: Can the method be used on a small or large scale, depending on the needs of the business?
  • Versatility: Can the method be used to purify a wide range of compounds, or is it only suitable for a narrow range of applications?

Centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) and flash chromatography are both relatively affordable and easy-to-use alternatives to traditional column chromatography. However, they do have their own specific strengths and weaknesses that may make one method more suitable for a particular application.

  • CPC is known for its high separation efficiency and ability to handle large sample volumes. It can also be used to purify a wide range of compounds, including lipids and natural products.
  • Flash chromatography is known for its simplicity and versatility. It can be used to purify a wide range of compounds, and is also relatively easy to scale up or down, depending on the needs of the business. However, it is not as efficient as CPC and may require the use of larger amounts of solvent.

Ultimately, the choice between CPC and flash chromatography will depend on the specific needs of the business, including the type of compounds being purified, the available equipment and resources, and the scale of the operation.

Flash chromatography

It is true that flash chromatography doesn’t need expensive equipment to operate, but there are some aspects which do ramp up its operational costs. One of the main expenses associated with flash chromatography is the cost of the separation column, which is typically filled with silica gel. Silica gel is a porous material that is used to adsorb and separate compounds based on their size and charge. It is a consumable material that needs to be replaced regularly, and the cost of the gel can add up over time.

Another factor to consider is the cost of the flash cartridge, which is the container that holds the separation column. Flash cartridges come in various sizes and configurations, and the cost can vary depending on the brand and the size of the cartridge. It’s important to choose a cartridge that is suitable for the volume of sample and the amount of solvent needed for the separation, as using a larger cartridge than necessary can increase the cost unnecessarily.

Overall, while flash chromatography is a relatively affordable and easy-to-use method, it is important to factor in the ongoing costs of the separation column and flash cartridge when evaluating the total cost of using this method.

Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

Centrifugal Partition Chromatography, however, avoids both of these issues, lowering its operational expenses by a large amount. How this is done is through the technology that powers CPC, which is liquid-liquid chromatography.

In liquid-liquid chromatography, separation occurs between two immiscible liquid phases, without the need for a solid stationary phase like silica gel. This makes it a cost-effective alternative to methods like flash chromatography, which requires regular replacement of the silica gel. Centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) is a particularly efficient liquid-liquid chromatography technique, with high yield and purity compared to traditional chromatographic methods. With CPC, there is little risk of sample loss or degradation due to interaction with the column, and the columns can be reused after rinsing, leading to less waste and lower expenses. Additionally, RotaChrom’s individual cell design simplifies the scale-up process, a common challenge in traditional chromatographic applications.

Application Example

But don’t just take our word for this. We have several demonstrations proving the validity of our special centrifugal partition chromatography solution.

Polishing of an anticancer API

API: Anastrozole

Goal: Polishing the API

Usually, a microbiological fermentation process is used to produce this API. However, reaction selectivity is compromised by the stereoisomer of the API, and other by-products also appear during the process. The large number of steps during production result in a low overall yield. Just in the final step, which is a preparative HPLC step, the loss is 70%.

In contrast, with our Centrifugal Partition Chromatography technique, a yield of above 90% could be achieved with the same purity as in the case of the conventional methods. Plus, due to the high selectivity, a large amount of sample can be loaded into the system, despite the low solubility of the API. In addition, RotaChrom’s individual cell design eliminates the time consuming and painstaking scale-up procedures, characteristic of traditional chromatographic applications.

Would you like to learn more?

If this sparked your curiosity about centrifugal partition chromatography, we invite you to take a look at our other resources:

  • Applications of CPC
  • Technological features of CPC
  • RotaChrom’s CPC products

Want to get in touch?

Fill in the form below so our representatives can contact you. We will also let you in on more information on our technology.

Previous article
Navigating the World of Chromatography: SFC and CPC Compared
Next article
Making the Right Choice: HPLC vs CPC for Your Purification Needs

Related News

Other posts that you should not miss.

Addressing pH Issues in Chromatography: From Solid-Phase to Liquid-Liquid Separations

May 15, 2025
-
Education, News
Selecting the appropriate stationary and mobile phases is a critical step in chromatographic method development. The primary objective is to achieve effective separations, characterized by sharp, symmetrical, and…
Read More →
6 MIN READ
partition coefficient

What is the ‘Partition Coefficient’?

June 17, 2023
-
Education, News
Chromatography stands as a widely adopted technique for separating and purifying complex mixtures. Among these methods, Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) stands out as a unique approach, relying on…
Read More →
4 MIN READ
Header for sustainable CPC blog post part 1.

Investigating Green Chemistry Practices in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) – Part 1

September 1, 2022
-
Education, News
Investigating Green Chemistry Practices in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography — Part I Despite its widespread use in the chemical industry, traditional preparative-scale liquid chromatography suffers from sustainability issues due…
Read More →
4 MIN READ

Latest News

Increasing separation efficiency by pH adjustment in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

May 19, 2025 – News

Addressing pH Issues in Chromatography: From Solid-Phase to Liquid-Liquid Separations

May 15, 2025 – Education, News

Chemspec 2025

May 15, 2025 – Conferences, Education, Exhibitions, News

Advancing Separation Science: CPC Device Installation and Its Impact

April 17, 2025 – News

Webinars

Separation of Remdesivir Diastereomeres by Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

September 25, 2023

Green Features of Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

May 10, 2021

Contact Us

RotaChrom Technologies PLC (Headquarters)

Csillag street 2/A, Kecskemet, HU-6000

+36 70 885 6922

RotaChrom North America Inc.

300 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618

+1 (720) 220-5669

Cookie Policy  /  Data Protection Policy  /  RotaChrom® is a registered trademark of Rotachrom Technologies in the USA and EU. / © 2025 RotaChrom Technologies. All rights reserved.
Flash vs CPC: A Comparative Analysis