Sigma-Aldrich launches ultrapure inorganics
The company says it can supply gram to metric ton quantities in purities of 99.99% to more than 99.9999%. It sees potential markets in such high-tech industries as telecommunications, microelectronics, fuel cells, medical imaging, and radiation detection.
The materials come from Aldrich-APL, LLC (AAPL), a joint venture between Aldrich Chemical Company, Inc. and APL Engineered Materials (Urbana, IL), a subsidiary of Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. (Solon, OH).
The joint venture has developed a proprietary package of technologies that include synthesis, sublimation, distillation, and recrystallization techniques. It uses such advanced analytical techniques as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), atomic absorption (AA) spectrophotometry and Karl-Fischer analysis to maintain consistent quality.
Its unique solids-processing and solid-state synthetic technology enables it to make a variety of inorganic forms, including easy-to-handle, free-flowing beads with low water, hydroxide, and oxide content.
In addition to supplying standard high-purity metals, binary halides, and other inorganic materials, AAPL, through Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals, plans to undertake custom synthesis projects on a confidential basis.
"Given the tremendous advances in materials science research and our manufacturing expertise in this area, we can provide a complete solution for our customers," says Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals president Jai Nagarkatti.
Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals provides raw materials process development, scale-up, and complex, multi-step custom synthesis services to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and industrial marketplace.
For more information: Prashant Savle, Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals, 1001 W. Saint Paul Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233. Phone: 414-298-7924. Fax: 414-273-4979.
By Alan S. Brown
Managing Editor, Chemical Online
abrown@vertical.net