Who are iLab, and why are they important?
iLab Solutions Ltd are a Milton Keynes-based independent specialist founded in 2014 that provide maintenance, repair and services for FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) systems, including AKTA systems and Biacore SPR instruments.
We also offer services such as column regeneration and re-packing, service support, as well as instrument and parts sales.
iLab are the leading UK based company that specializes in FPLC liquid chromatography separation systems, from bench to full production capacity.
What we mean by that is despite our small size, we are greatly trusted by our customers and know the high value or our customers wants and needs, so we will always ensure we meet these needs as best as we can because our customers come first.
What is Chromatography and FPLC?
Chromatography is a laboratory technique that separates complex mixtures into their individual components by passing them through a stationary phase (fixed substance such as solid silica or liquid film) carried by a mobile phase (liquid or gas).
This separation system allows scientists to identify, analyze, or purify different substances for the purpose of use in food science, medicine, and environmental analysis to separate dyes, drugs, pollutants, and more.
FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) is a scientific technique used to separate, purify and analyse biomolecules such as proteins, peptides and nucleic acids by controlling the flow of a liquid mobile phase (liquid solvent or solvent mixture) through a column packed with a stationary phase (resin).
It uses automated systems, often with biocompatible materials and aqueous buffers, to achieve high-resolution, reproducible separations based on properties like charge (ion exchange), size (gel filtration), or affinity, making it ideal for large-scale protein purification.
What is column regeneration and re-packing?
Column regeneration or column repacking is the process of removing old or degraded stationary phase material from a chromatography column and replacing it with fresh, uniformly packed, new material to restore performance.
This is a necessary process when the packed bed develops defects like cracks, voids, or channels, which lead to decreased separation efficiency, increased pressure, and poor results. The columns used for FPLC eventually become clogged with salts and disallow the separation process to work as smoothly as when the column were new.
iLab offer a service that allows our customers to send their columns to us to be repacked and sent back to them as if their columns were brand new. If this is something that you believe could be of interest to you or your lab, please feel free to read more about this service and get in contact with us for a no-obligation free quote.