Pre activated Florisil ® - for use with Dioxin Sample Preparation Kit,60-100 mesh

Cat. No.: F196376

GRADE & PURITY for use with Dioxin Sample Preparation Kit,60-100 mesh

Synonyms

Activated magnesium silicate,Magnesium silicate

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Overview

Florisil is a hard, powdered gel of magnesium-silicate used in preparative and analytical chromatography. Typical chemical composition of Florisil: MgO - 15.5%, SiO2 - 84.0%, Na2SO4 - 0.5% Surface area:289 m2/g Grade information: A Grade:Standard activation grade, activated at 650 degrees C B Grade:Less active grade, activated at 260 degrees C PR Grade:Pesticide residue analysis grade, activated at 675 degrees C Florisil is a registered trademark of U.S. Silica Company
Florisil was used:
● as column packing material in column chromatography
● as an adsorbent in Gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC/ECD), capillary column chromatography, adsorption column chromatography
● in clean-up procedures in gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and GC-FID

Specifications

Synonyms

Activated magnesium silicate,Magnesium silicate

Specifications & Purity

for use with Dioxin Sample Preparation Kit,60-100 mesh

Legal Information

Florisil is a registered trademark of U.S. Silica Company

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Application Protocols

No item-specific validated protocols are provided in the Product Data for this SKU. The following generalized procedures are offered as literature-style guidance only:

A. Quick cleanup plug (gravity)

• Pre-wet a small Florisil plug with dichloromethane; equilibrate with hexane.
• Load sample in minimal hexane (or dry-load). Elute with hexane → hexane/ethyl acetate gradient (e.g., 0–20% EtOAc) collecting fractions. Monitor by TLC/GC.

B. Pesticide/PCB cleanup (generalized)

• Condition Florisil bed or cartridge with 1–2 column volumes of hexane.
• Load extract in hexane; elute interferences with hexane; then step to hexane/dichloromethane or hexane/ethyl acetate to elute analytes per method guidance.

C. Peroxide removal from ether/olefin solutions (bench-scale)

• Pass solution through a short Florisil column or stir with a small portion of Florisil; filter and analyze residual peroxides before use. Validate no product loss.

Note: Optimize solvent systems and bed mass for your specific matrix. For compliance-sensitive methods, adhere strictly to the governing protocol (e.g., EPA, ASTM).

Biological Roles

Not a biomolecule. Florisil (activated magnesium silicate) has no intrinsic biological role or metabolic function.

General laboratory/biochemistry context (literature):

• Used as an adsorbent to remove lipids, pigments, or small polar metabolites from complex biological extracts prior to chromatographic analysis.
• Can serve in sample preparation workflows for biological matrices (serum, tissue extracts) where selective cleanup improves LC/GC signal quality.

No clinical or therapeutic claims are made. All uses are for research and laboratory workflows only.

Buffer Applications

Not typically used as a buffer component. As a solid adsorbent, Florisil does not establish a defined pH buffering system in aqueous media.

Practical note:

• In aqueous or mixed aqueous systems, Florisil can scavenge certain components (e.g., dyes, small polar organics), but routine biochemical buffer preparation should instead use designated buffering agents (e.g., phosphate, Tris, HEPES).

Green Alternatives

Context: Florisil use impacts the overall greenness of a workflow mainly through solvent consumption and adsorbent disposal. The solid itself is an inorganic mineral adsorbent.

Options and trade-offs (literature/general):

• Alternative stationary phases:
  • Silica gel: Similar polarity; often interchangeable. May require less polar eluents for comparable separations; can influence solvent volumes.
  • Neutral alumina: More basic; can enable milder solvent systems for certain analytes but may cause stronger binding of acids.
  • Functionalized silicas (e.g., amino, diol): Tailored selectivity can reduce rework and solvent use but may be costlier.
• Process changes that improve greenness:
  • Use gradient elution or flash systems with optimized particle size to reduce total solvent.
  • Select greener eluents where compatible (e.g., heptane or cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) instead of dichloromethane; ethyl acetate in place of chlorinated solvents).
  • Implement SPE mini-columns for cleanup to minimize sorbent mass and solvent volumes compared to large gravity columns.

Small comparison table (general):

| Option | Pros | Cons | |---|---|---| | Florisil | Distinct selectivity; gentle acidity; established in EPA cleanup | Generates solid waste; may require chlorinated solvents | | Silica gel | Widely available; predictable | Often more acidic; potential analyte degradation | | Neutral alumina | Basic sites; good for acids | Can bind strongly; recovery variability |

Note: Specific environmental metrics (E-factors, solvent volumes) depend on the process; optimize empirically.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No item-specific pharmacopeial status or excipient grade is provided for this SKU; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

General, non-clinical context (literature):

• Magnesium silicate materials are sometimes used industrially as adsorbents/clarifying agents in processing streams (e.g., decolorization, removal of acidic impurities) and as glidants/flow aids in certain formulations.
• For research/formulation development, Florisil may be evaluated for adsorptive removal of trace impurities or as a processing aid in small-scale purification steps.

Important: No claims are made regarding suitability for human or veterinary use. For any GMP or pharmacopeial applications, ensure compliance with the relevant monographs and specifications; this SKU is intended for research use only.

Physical Properties

Item-specific specifications: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

General/literature values for activated magnesium silicate (for context only; ranges vary by manufacturer and grade):

• Physical state/appearance: white to off-white, free-flowing, porous powder or granules (amorphous inorganic solid).
• Porosity/surface area: typically high surface area (e.g., ~100–300 m²/g, literature), with mesoporous structure; exact values are product-specific.
• Pore diameter: often in the mesoporous regime (e.g., 5–15 nm, literature); distribution depends on activation and source.
• Particle size/mesh: chromatography grades are commonly 60–200 mesh (US), but specific cuts vary; see label/CoA for this item.
• Density: true density around ~2.5–2.7 g/cm³; bulk density frequently ~0.3–0.7 g/mL (all literature ranges).
• Solubility: insoluble in water and most organic solvents; slowly decomposes/dissolves in strong acids or bases.
• Melting/boiling point: not applicable (amorphous, decomposes at high temperature).
• pKa/logP/refractive index: not applicable to a solid inorganic adsorbent.

Practical notes (general):

• Water content at the surface critically affects adsorption selectivity/capacity. “Pre activated” material is supplied at a defined low moisture content to give reproducible performance. Maintain dryness to preserve activity (see Storage).

Quality & Grades

Item-specific grade/purity: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Interpretation of “Pre activated Florisil ®” (general):

• Pre-activated indicates the adsorbent has been thermally conditioned to a defined activity level (controlled surface hydration). This reduces run-to-run variability and eliminates the need for in-lab activation prior to use.
• Activity levels (literature): Traditional activity classes for magnesium silicate/silica (I–III) correlate with water content; exact classification and target %H2O are manufacturer-specific. For this SKU, the specific activity level is not specified—consult the CoA/specification.
• Particle size/mesh and surface area strongly influence flow rates and resolution in chromatography; these parameters are product-specific and should be verified on the CoA for method transfer.
• Trace metals, extractables, and UV background are often controlled in chromatography grades, but acceptance limits are item-specific. Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Implications for users:

• Pre-activated material is typically ready-to-pack for columns or cleanup cartridges, enabling consistent adsorption without additional drying steps.
• If method SOPs call for a particular activation (e.g., rehydration to a target %H2O), confirm compatibility with the supplied activation state and adjust conditioning accordingly.

Reaction & Applications

Primary role: adsorbent/stationary phase rather than a reagent.

Applications (literature/general):

• Column chromatography for separation of moderately polar organics, especially halogenated aromatics, carbonyl compounds, steroids, essential oil components, and dye/pigment fractions.
• Sample cleanup (SPE/column) for environmental residues; widely used in pesticide and PCB cleanup protocols (e.g., Florisil cleanup steps in EPA methods) prior to GC/LC analysis.
• Adsorptive removal of peroxides, acids, phospholipids, pigments, and other polar contaminants from hydrocarbon matrices and natural product extracts.
• Deacidification and color removal in fats/oils and fuel streams (bench-scale), leveraging polar site interactions.

Practical tips (general):

• “Pre-activated” material is typically ready for use. Minimize exposure to ambient humidity to maintain activity and reproducibility.
• For gravity columns, tap to settle and avoid channeling; for flash systems, match particle size to flow/pressure limits.
• Condition with starting eluent; verify bed compaction and uniform wetting. Avoid strong polar spikes unless intentional.
• For sensitive analytes, compare Florisil with silica or neutral alumina to optimize recovery vs cleanup stringency.

Not item-specific: exact mesh, activity, and moisture are not specified for this SKU—consult CoA to align with method requirements.

Reaction Conditions

As an adsorbent, Florisil is used under chromatographic or cleanup conditions rather than as a reactant.

Typical usage parameters (literature/general):

• Conditioning: Rinse bed with a strong, wetting solvent (e.g., dichloromethane or ethyl acetate), then equilibrate with the starting eluent (e.g., hexane or heptane).
• Elution: Begin with a weak solvent (hexane/heptane), then increase polarity with ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, or small percentages of alcohols as needed. Monitor fractions by TLC/GC/LC.
• Load formats: Dry-load (adsorb sample onto a small amount of Florisil or silica) or wet-load in minimal solvent. Dry-loading often sharpens bands and increases capacity for polar samples.
• Bed loading/capacity: Highly method-dependent; start with small-scale scouting. As a rough literature heuristic, adsorbent mass 20–50× crude mass for difficult separations; less for simple cleanups.
• Temperature: Ambient. Elevated temperatures are generally unnecessary and may change solvent strength or adsorption equilibria.

Note: Exact solvent choices, gradients, and capacities are analyte- and grade-specific. For regulated methods (e.g., EPA pesticide cleanups), follow the prescribed cartridge mass, activation, and elution scheme from the method.

Safety & Handling

Item-specific hazard information (from Product Data):

• Signal word / H-statements / GHS classification / Pictograms: Not specified for this item; refer to the SDS for authoritative safety data.

General safety considerations for activated magnesium silicate (literature/good practice):

• Hazards: Nuisance dust may cause mechanical irritation to eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Avoid inhalation of fine particles.
• PPE: Use safety glasses, lab coat, and appropriate gloves (e.g., nitrile). Employ dust control measures (local exhaust, handle in fume hood if dusty). Consider a particulate respirator where dust cannot be controlled.
• Incompatibilities: Avoid contact with strong acids (can dissolve silicate, releasing heat and salts) and strong bases (silicate dissolution). Avoid moisture uptake which alters activity.
• First aid (overview; consult SDS):
  • Inhalation: move to fresh air; seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
  • Eye contact: rinse cautiously with water for several minutes; remove contact lenses if present and easy to do.
  • Skin contact: wash with soap and water.
  • Ingestion: rinse mouth; seek medical advice if unwell.
• Fire: Material is inorganic and non-flammable; packaging may burn. Use extinguishing media appropriate for surrounding fire.
• Spills: Avoid dust generation; sweep or HEPA vacuum. Collect in suitable container for disposal in accordance with local regulations.

Always defer to the SDS for this specific SKU for binding hazard and handling guidance.

Solvent Selection

This product is a solid adsorbent/stationary phase, not a solvent. Solvent selection pertains to the mobile phase or conditioning solvents used with Florisil in chromatography/cleanup.

General guidance (literature):

• Polarity: Florisil is polar and Lewis-acidic; it retains polar and moderately polar compounds via H-bonding and dipole interactions.
• Typical solvent systems:
  • Nonpolar to mid-polar eluents (e.g., hexane, heptane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate) to modulate elution strength.
  • Alcohol modifiers (e.g., methanol, isopropanol) increase elution strength sharply; use cautiously to avoid breakthrough.
• Miscibility/conditioning:
  • Condition packed beds with the starting eluent to wet pores and displace air; some methods pre-wet with a strong solvent (e.g., DCM) then equilibrate with weak solvent (e.g., hexane).

Small comparison (literature):

• Florisil vs Silica Gel: Florisil may provide different selectivity for carbonyls, halogenated aromatics, and pesticides; often less acidic than silica, reducing decomposition of base-sensitive analytes.
• Florisil vs Neutral Alumina: Alumina is more basic; Florisil can offer gentler conditions for acid-labile species while still retaining polar impurities.

Storage & Reconstitution

Item-specific storage/shipping (from Product Data):

• Storage Conditions: Room temperature
• Shipped In: Normal

General handling/storage guidance (literature):

• Keep container tightly closed and stored in a dry environment. Florisil is hygroscopic to a degree; moisture uptake alters adsorption activity.
• Minimize headspace exposure and reseal promptly after dispensing. Consider secondary containment with desiccant if ambient humidity is high.
• If performance drifts due to moisture exposure, many users re-activate magnesium silicate by heating (e.g., oven-drying) and cooling in a desiccator before use; specific time/temperature are product- and SOP-dependent. For this SKU, no re-activation parameters are specified—consult CoA or validate internally.

Reconstitution: Not applicable (solid adsorbent). Prior to use, condition the packed bed with the chosen eluent as described under Reaction Conditions.

Research Use: For research use only (per Product Data).

Structure & Identity

Item-specific identifiers (from Product Data):

• SKU: F196376
• Product Name: Pre activated Florisil ®
• CAS: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Molecular Formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Molecular Weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• InChIKey / SMILES: Not applicable to amorphous mineral adsorbents; not specified for this item.

General identity (literature/general knowledge):

• Florisil is a trade name for activated magnesium silicate, typically an amorphous, porous, high-surface-area inorganic solid used as an adsorbent/stationary phase.
• Empirical composition is often represented as xMgO·ySiO2 (non-stoichiometric, amorphous). No discrete molecular structure, no defined stereochemistry.
• Structural features (2D/solid-state description):
  • A silicate network with Mg2+ cations associated with silanol/siloxane-rich surfaces.
  • High density of surface silanol groups (Si–OH) and Lewis-acidic sites that enable polar interactions (hydrogen bonding, dipole, and acid–base interactions) with analytes.
• Typical forms (literature): powders or granules with defined mesh sizes for chromatography or cleanup.

Notes:

• “Pre activated” indicates the material has been thermally conditioned to a defined activity (reduced surface water) and is supplied ready for use without further drying (see Quality & Grades for implications).

Synthetic Utility

Although not a chemical reagent, Florisil is frequently integrated into synthetic workflows as an adsorptive tool:

• Workup aid: Pack small plugs/columns to remove acids, peroxides, polar byproducts, metal–ligand residues, or colored impurities from organic reaction mixtures prior to concentration or crystallization.
• Selective scavenging: Targeted removal of phosphine oxides, boron species, or halogenated byproducts depending on polarity and interaction with silanol/Lewis-acidic sites (optimize solvent polarity to retain contaminants while eluting product).
• Inline cleanup: In flash chromatography, Florisil layers can be used above/below silica to modulate band shape or capture problematic polar impurities.
• Natural products: Effective for fractionating terpenes, steroids, and phenolics where moderate polarity differentials exist.

Practical guidance (general):

• Choose particle size compatible with desired flow/pressure. Pre-activated material minimizes variability arising from humidity.
• Test eluent strength on small-scale plugs to avoid breakthrough of target compounds; step or gradient elution helps tune selectivity.
• For acid/base-sensitive molecules, Florisil can be milder than acidic silica yet more retentive than neutral supports, offering a useful balance.

Target Specificity

Not applicable. This product is an inorganic adsorbent, not a biological targeting reagent.

• No antigen/epitope, species reactivity, clone, or isotype information is relevant.
• Item-specific targeting data: Not applicable for this product type.