FeyeCon
creating the future
- textiles & polymers
- food cosmetics
- pharmaceuticals & nutraceuticals
- equipment
Introduction
FeyeCon Development & Implementation develops and manufactures products with supercritical CO2 technology. Using the possibilities that are offered by the processes with supercritical CO2 many new and superior products become possible. Applications are found in food, pharma, textile and other industrial fields. Creativity and flexibility are our core values. Combined with hard work to achieve our goals we are able to achieve over 90% of the challenges we meet. Cutting edge technology is maintained at a high level through cooperation with leading university groups. Pilot plant facilities are available for small scale production. A clean room facility is available for pharmaceutical applications. For full scale production our staff is most happy to design, engineer and build large scale facilities for your products. Contact us to discuss your business case with our specialists or business people.
Supercritical fluids
Versatile Applications
The wide potential range of application makes processes with CO2 an attractive method for the production of high quality products. Compressed gases like CO2 can be an alternative solvent to conventional organic solvents. Also it can provide an entirely new route to a new product. The products are available for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food purposes, and for the polymer, wood, and textile industry. CO2 is inexpensive and recyclable, and thus also attractive for bulk production. In most cases the process cost are lower. We will work out cost efficient solutions and demonstrate that high pressure equipment is not exceptionally expensive.
Tunable
At atmospheric conditions CO2 is a gas. By increasing temperature and pressure above 31ºC and 73 bar respectively CO2 is present as one phase neither liquid nor gaseous but “supercritical” (a unique combination of gas-like viscosity liquid-like density). The density can be tuned by variation of pressure and/or temperature which changes the solvent power of the CO2. A rapid reduction of the pressure decreases the solubility and is beneficial for the micronisation of solids. The low surface tension of a supercritical fluid and its high diffusivity allow penetration even into the smallest pores. This makes it especially suitable for extraction, rinsing, dyeing, and impregnation.
Non-toxic
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used most widely for supercritical fluid processes because of its relatively low critical temperature and pressure. The use of supercritical CO2 is particularly attractive because it is an environmentally benign solvent and can be recycled easily. It is non-flammable and relatively non-toxic.
Product applications
FeyeCon uses CO2 technology in many fields aiming at new products or aiming at the improvement of existing products regarding cost reduction or waste minimisation. Feel free to scan our product applications and get inspired by the possibilities of your business.
Drug delivery - Supercritical fluid technology opens windows in the delivery of low soluble compounds.
Is your compound available?
Up to 40% of all new pharmaceutical compounds have a poor biological availability due to their low solubility. This property sets serious challenges for the formulation departments of the pharmaceutical companies worldwide. For the formulation of poorly soluble compounds there are different strategies using a combination of supercritical fluid (SCF) technology. The high densities and the fast diffusivity in SCFs opens windows in the precipitation processes, leading to preferred particle morphology and co-precipitation possibilities.
Pulmonary protein delivery - Get rid of the needle! Enhance pulmonary uptake by using tailor-made particles.
Get rid of the needle!
Pulmonary protein delivery has tremendous benefits as well as drawbacks. Typical benefits are the low enzymatic activity and large surface area. Large molecules, however, can have low bio-availability using this administration route. Particle engineering and uptake enhancers are used to enhance pulmonary uptake of macromolecules. Particles for pulmonary delivery made by supercritical fluids technology can be tailored to exhibit correct physical and aerodynamic behaviour.
Medical cannabis - Reliable administration of cannabis derivatives for therapeutical and analytical applications.
Reliable, efficient, pure and predictable.
Cannabis is progressively accepted as a powerful painkiller. Unfortunately, its use is often associated with undesired psycho-active side effects. Hence, better quality cannabis and derivatives are required, as well as improved routes for administration. FeyeCon has applied its broad experience on sub- and supercritical gas technology on the development of improved cannabis-products. FeyeCon is capable of isolating individual cannabinoids to >99.7% by preparative liquid chromatography. Resulting products can be used as analytical standards or as highly specific sedatives.
Micronisation - New micronisation technology opens possibilities for product development and manufacturing.
Ultra-fine soft materials.
Micron-size powders of fat, wax or other ductile materials offer opportunities for new products and inventive processing. A New melt micronisation technology produces particles of various structures with fine details down to about 100 nm. Such powders carry uncharted potential for development of products and production technologies. In this new field, success with consumer products depends on innovations in product formulation, processing and equipment development. Our expertise and experience with melt-micronisation helps you tailor your application.
Dispersion - Dispersion of powders in a liquid carrier using CO2 requires less energy and results in better quality.
Abrasion free dispersion at gentle temperatures.
With standard dispersion processes, energy is introduced to the agglomerates by impact and shear, like when using a bead mill. Most of the energy is dissipated as heat. With this new technology compressed CO2 is dissolved in the dispersion. Using a rapid depressurisation the CO2 will expand and disperse the particles. The energy acts from the inside on the agglomerates to disperse them. No heat is generated by the expansion.
Mild fractionation - High pressure fractionation offers a save way to recover sensitive compounds from liquid mixtures.
Discover and recover the best.
Active compounds for food-supplements or cosmetic applications can be efficiently recovered from liquid mixtures using high pressure fractionation employing supercritical CO2 and a packed column. The advantage over conventional distillation is that degradation of sensitive compounds is avoided. This offers various opportunities for the separation of valuable, but sensitive compounds that are used as ingredients in e.g. nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic products.
FeyDry - The FeyDry process enables fast drying without exposing your product to extreme temperatures.
Gentle drying for temperature-sensitive components.
Drying with conventional techniques (hot air drying, freeze drying) often leads to damage to the product. The FeyDry process enables products to be efficiently dried at temperatures close to ambient. It uses carbon dioxide as a water carrier and a zeolite as drying medium. This allows the process to be faster than the conventional drying process. Application of the process is particularly interesting for temperature sensitive materials such as vegetables, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals.
CO2 spray drying - An alternative drying process for aqueous solutions of thermolabile and solvent-sensitive compounds.
The fast and safer alternative.
FeyeCon has developed a process for the drying of aqueous solutions of proteins, sugars, and other water soluble compounds. The process is specifically suitable for drying of thermolabile and solvent-sensitive compounds. It is a faster and benign alternative to conventional spray drying and freeze drying. The process is suitable for large scale operation and processing costs are equal to or lower than for freeze drying. Gentle temperatures of 35-40°C result in minimum degradation of the active compounds.
Textile dyeing - Cost effective, water free and environmentally friendly process for dyeing textile fabrics.
Water free and environment friendly.
FeyeCon has developed a process and a machine for dyeing of textile material in supercritical carbon dioxide. It is a complete water free dyeing process with considerable lower operational costs than conventional dyeing processes. A beam dyeing machine for dyeing synthetic fabric with disperse dyes has been developed. Natural fibres can be dyed as well, using specially designed reactive dyes. The machine is easily implemented in current textile dyeing plants. (In co-operation with Stork Prints bv).
Dry-cleaning of textiles - Non-toxic, cost-effective and odourless process for cleaning delicate clothing, using liquid CO2.
A better process for cleaning delicate clothing.
Dry-cleaning is a process for removing soils and stains from fabrics and garments which uses a non-aqueous solvent. The use of water as a cleaning solvent for fabrics causes wrinkles, shrinkage and loss of shape. Dry-cleaning solvents have no effect on the structure of the fabric. However, the commonly used dry-cleaning solvents are toxic and environmentally harmful. Liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) is an ideal solvent to replace them.
Polymer foaming - Cheaper, environmentally friendly, versatile and with adjustable properties: polymer foaming using CO2.
A sound method to expand your business.
Polymer foams are used in construction, packaging, footwear, the automotive industry etc. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is very soluble in many polymers and can be efficiently used to foam polymers. The versatile process can either be carried out batch-wise or in a continuous process. In comparison with other foaming processes, CO2 is environmentally sound, fast, and cheap.
High-pressure systems - Custom engineered systems and components for supercritical separation and particle technology.
CO2 supply unit FeyeCon builds custom fit CO2 supply systems that will suit your demand. From simple configurations to complex installations. CO2 pump FeyeCon has developed a high pressure circulation pump with increased capacity compared to magnetic coupling pumps and at reduced cost compared to dynamic axis sealing systems. Sapphire cells Some high pressure processes require visual inspection. FeyeCon has designed sapphire cell equipment for the measurement of fluid phase equilibria and observation of processes in high pressure systems. Clean room facility FeyeCon has a clean room for supercritical processes for the production of your test batches on a food grade or pharmaceutical level.
Ready-made products
The R&D activities of FeyeCon have lead to products that are available directly without further development. Contact our business people about prices, delivery times, and about special product specification you require.
Cannabis extracts and cannabinoids as API or analytical standard
Extracts and API's can be produced on demand according to Dutch and European regulations on controlled substances. (In co-operation with Farmalyse bv). FeyeCon produces medicinal cannabis extracts in different purities. The available grades vary from a crude extract with a 60% THC content to a cGMP produced API of 99+ %. Extraction takes place in our Class C Cleanroom facility. Further purification is carried out in co-operation with our business partner Farmalyse bv. We deliver cannabinoid products only to companies with the required licences for controlled substances.
High pressure CO2 circulation pump
Current ‘small’ model specifications: Flow: 30-40 m3/h, head: 70m = 3.5 bar for CO2 at a density of 500 kg/m3, 3000 rpm, motor: 7.5 kW, working conditions: up to any pressure and 120°C (for instance 350 bar and 120°C). There is an increasing demand for centrifugal pumps that operate at a high pressure (HP). FeyeCon has developed a HP circulation pump with increased capacity compared to magnetic coupling pumps and at reduced cost compared to dynamic axis sealing systems. Based on one of two prototypes, a circulation pump was implemented into a semi-full scale dyeing machine. Ask us for the results.
High-pressure viewcell
Available as multi purpose design, suitable for solubility measurements, phase equilibrium data and visualisation of dyeing crystallisation or precipitation processes. Working conditions: up to 350 bar and 150°C. Some HP processes require visual inspection. Transparent sapphire has unique physical properties for this purpose. FeyeCon has designed Sapphire cell equipment for the measurement of fluid phase equilibria and observation of processes in HP systems. The set-up is installed in an oven, and allows fast and easy opening and cleaning of the cells.
Company profile
FeyeCon Development & Implementation B.V., founded in 1992, is a privately owned company starting as a spin-off company from Delft University of Technology. Within the last 14 years it has developed into a corporation with 17 employees and own facilities. Our employees are industrial experienced and have academic degrees (physics, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemistry, pharmacy, mechanical engineering).
FeyeCon operates in the development phase of products, where creative but simple solutions make all the difference. We use our knowledge of CO2 technology to help our customers with the development of new, improved, or more cost effective products. We serve customers in the food, pharmaceutical and process industry.
Experiment and production
We operate from a scientific level to an industrial level for products and processes. An experimental set up is often constructed and commissioned within days and experimental results are delivered within weeks with the proof of principle and semi-scale production. Generally our projects proceed in these phases:
- Proof of principle and economic feasibility
- Research and development
- Implementation and product qualification
Implementation
High-pressure technology is generally believed to be an expensive alternative. In particular our specific knowledge of the suitable equipment for such systems can in fact make high-pressure technology economically the more favourable alternative. Our experience with the application of certain new technologies is reflected by our work as consultant. However, we are not afraid to face the consequences and carry the implementation trajectory. Because the environment friendly and innovative nature of our technology, research and development activities executed in cooperation with other companies are often subsidised with European or national grants.
Business activities
Projects are defined for both national and international customers from industry, institutes, and universities. We take customer requirements and turn them into clear deliverables (products) and milestones in our quotations. We spend 40% of our time on contracts. Co-operations and joint ventures consume 50% and 10% is of our time is used for our own projects. We are willing to share the risks and rewards with our clients.
Alliances
FeyeCon works on joint projects with several strategic partners. With the Delft University of Technology we have several co-operations in particular for non commercial research projects. For the isolation and fractionation of natural compounds we are able to offer various analyses and toxicity tests in co-operation with Prisna bv. Together with Stork prints we developed a low cost alternative high-pressure vessel that, among others, can be used for textile dyeing.
Confidentiality
For most of our partners and clients the fact and nature of the work is confidential. Of course we treat all our projects as such. Secrecy agreements and exclusivity contracts can complete the co-operation.
Patents & publications
Patents
Thesis
Publications
Contact information
FeyeCon D&I B.V.
Main address
Rijnkade 17a
1382 GS Weesp
The Netherlands
Phone +31 294 45 77 33
Fax +31 294 45 88 66
E-mail info@feyecon.com
Office in Delft:
Leeghwaterstraat 44
2628CA Delft
Phone +31 15 278 -5498/-3839
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)
Cleanroom facility
In our main laboratories at FeyeCon a cleanroom facility is available for the cGMP production of clinical lots. For the moment various extraction processes can be carried out. After extension of the equipment (from mid 2006) we are also can offer a variety of particle engineering techniques such as SAS (supercritical antisolvent), rapid expansion of a supercritical solution (RESS), and supercritical spray drying.
Production capacity
The vessels (5 and 7 litre) allow a production of up to 2 kilo per batch. For particle engineering a larger particle collection vessel is designed to enable a daily production of 10 kg.
GMP
The cleanroom is of class C, and it is equipped with a class D gowning room. Currently, the validation of processes and equipment is in process. We aim to comply to cGMP annex 13 for the production of clinical materials by July 2006.
Disclaimer
Liability For documents and software available from this domain, FeyeCon does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed. External Links Some pages may provide links to other internet sites for the convenience of users. FeyeCon is not responsible for the availability or content of these external sites, nor does FeyeCon endorse, warrant, or guarantee the products, services, or information described or offered at these other internet sites.
Privacy
Personal information FeyeCon does not require personal information from their visitors, nor does FeyeCon collect any personally identifying information (name, e-mail address, Social Security number, or other unique identifier) unless you knowingly provide it. Likewise, we do not give, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party except as might be required by law. Data collection for statistics To aid in web site management, certain information is collected for statistical purposes. The Service uses specialized software to create summary statistics, which are used for such purposes as assessing what information is of most and least interest to our customers, determining technical design specifications, and identifying system performance or problem areas. We collect only the following information about your visit: 1) The name of the domain from which you access the Internet (for example, tudelft.nl). 2) The web site from which you linked directly to our web site. 3) The operating system and web browser you use to view pages. 4) The date and time you access our web site. We use the information we collect to measure the number of visitors to the different sections of our web site, allowing us to make our web site more useful and accessible to visitors. We do not store any personal identifiers.
Copyright notice
All rights, including copyright, in the content of these web pages, including downloads, are owned or controlled for these purposes by FeyeCon. In accessing FeyeCon's web pages, you agree that you may only download the content for your own personal non-commercial use. You are not permitted to copy, broadcast, download, store (in any medium), transmit, show or play in public, adapt or change in any way the content of the FeyeCon web pages for any other purpose whatsoever without the prior written permission of FeyeCon.
Credits
Graphic concept: Combustic.
Graphic design and production: Beelders.
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