Scientists at Southwest Research Institute have developed a new purification technique to improve chromatography results without expensive purification materials or equipment.

“By far, the most widely used chromatography purification process relies on silica gel; however, silica fails when purifying extremely polar organic compounds, commonly used in APIs. Other purification materials exist, but are substantially more expensive. We think we’ve found a reliable and inexpensive alternative,” said Dr Travis Menard, Research Scientist, Southwest Research Institute.

Through internal research funding, SwRI scientists evaluated a technique discovered serendipitously while studying antidotes to nerve agents and pesticides. By adding calcium chloride during normal-phase chromatography of highly polar compounds, the team achieved purification results like those attained with more expensive materials and equipment. The technique applies to organic compounds such as amines, amine salts and peptides, common drug ingredients often referred to as biologics.

“We made the discovery almost by accident. Our deionised water system was offline, so I decided to use tap water with hydrochloric acid. All of a sudden, we achieved really good results. Realising that tap water in South Texas contains limestone or calcium carbonate provided the first clue that this technique might work,” said Dr Shawn Blumberg, Lead Scientist, who happened upon the technique.

Although Blumberg and his team developed the technique over several years, the 2025 IR&D project allowed researchers a chance to evaluate and optimise the technique with a variety of APIs currently under development at SwRI.

“Our preliminary results show ion-assisted chromatography may also apply to the purification of peptides. That would be a significant breakthrough,” Menard added.