Handling difficult substances has become one of our specialties over the last 10 years
- Complicated chemicals that are for example insoluble in test water, hydrolytically instable, volatile, photosensitive, adsorptive, coloured, complex or unspecified mixture (a UVCB substance), or highly toxic.
- Bioproducts: micro-organisms, semiochemicals, and natural products.
Our solution:
1 Science is a stimulating challenge for us
- Our strong analytical focus makes us a good partner for complex molecules such as polymers, proteins, UVCBs, but also secondary metabolites associated with microorganisms.
- We have experts with more than 30 years’ experience in all of our departments, who have been involved in a large number of projects, as well as young scientists willing to deal with unusual studies.
- We are interested in working with the latest technology, developing new tests, and participating in the development of the guidelines.
2 Tailor-made studies. Our scientists are working closely with our customers
of our Environmental Fate studies require development of special extraction methods or specific traps and analysis for volatile degradation products, pre-conditioning of glassware.
of our Ecotoxicology studies require ad-hoc methodologies such as special procedures for preparation of dosing solutions, testing of water accommodated fractions, pre-conditioning of glassware or the use of inert materials.
of our Crop Metabolism studies are performed on new active ingredients.
3 Integrated process between in vivo phase and analytics in the Ecotoxicology and Environmental Fate department
Ecotoxicology
Environmental Fate
Step 1
Set up of a suitable analytical method.
Step 1
Set up of a suitable analytical method.
Step 2
Pre-tests for difficult test substances once a sufficiently sensitive method is available.
For flow-through testing, solubility and stability testing followed by dosage trials in the flow-through system.
Step 2
For some specific studies extraction methods will be implemented. Use of specific anti-adsorbing materials such as Teflon tubes instead of plastic tubes is also a possibility if the test item adsorbs to plastic or glassware.
Step 3
Analytical method optimisation, e.g. increase of sensitivity for highly toxic compounds which are dosed in very low concentrations.
Step 3
Pre-tests for difficult test substances will be made to examine recovery rate and stability.
Step 4
The study itself: tailor-made set-up, development of a suitable application method involving e.g. slow stirring, filtration, or water…
Testing in a flow-through system is a solution if the test item is not stable under test conditions. It can even be used under a fume hood if the test item is very toxic and/or volatile.
Step 4
The study itself: tailor-made set-up, development of a suitable application method involving e.g. slow stirring, filtration, or water accomodated fractions…
3 Integrated process between biology and analytics in the Ecotoxicology and Environmental Fate department
Ecotoxicology
Step 1
Set up of a suitable analytical method.
Step 2
Pre-tests for difficult test substances once a sufficiently sensitive method is available.
For flow-through testing, solubility and stability testing followed by dosage trials in the flow-through system.
Step 3
Analytical method optimisation, e.g. increase of sensitivity for highly toxic compounds which are dosed in very low concentrations.
Step 4
The study itself: tailor-made set-up, development of a suitable application method involving e.g. slow stirring, filtration, or water…
Testing in a flow-through system is a solution if the test item is not stable under test conditions. It can even be used under a fume hood if the test item is very toxic and/or volatile.
Environmental Fate
Step 1
Set up of a suitable analytical method.
Step 2
For some specific studies extraction methods will be implemented. Use of specific anti-adsorbing materials such as Teflon tubes instead of plastic tubes is also a possibility if the test item adsorbs to plastic or glassware.
Step 3
Pre-tests for difficult test substances will be made to examine recovery rate and stability.
Step 4
The study itself: tailor-made set-up, development of a suitable application method involving e.g. slow stirring, filtration, or water…
