Isolera

Isolera is a brand of automated purification systems used for flash chromatography in chemical laboratories. Developed and marketed by Biotage, the Isolera platform is designed to streamline the purification of synthetic compounds, natural products, and complex mixtures by automating sample loading, solvent delivery, gradient or isocratic elution, and fraction collection. The systems typically rely on pre-packed cartridges or columns containing silica, alumina, or reversed-phase sorbents, and incorporate detectors such as UV to monitor elution and guide fraction collection.

The technology aims to improve throughput and reproducibility in preparative chromatography. Isolera instruments are capable of handling a range of scales, from milligram to multi-gram throughputs, depending on cartridge size and solvent system. Software accompanying the systems supports method development, automation, and transfer of purification methods between instruments, helping laboratories standardize workflows and reduce manual intervention.

Applications of Isolera systems span pharmaceutical research, agrochemistry, and natural products isolation, where rapid and reliable separation of mixtures is valuable. Users benefit from reduced purification time, minimized solvent usage through optimized gradients, and the ability to isolate target compounds with defined purity.

Limitations and considerations include the need for appropriate method development to maximize efficiency, management of solvent waste, and adherence to laboratory safety and disposal guidelines. Isolera represents one approach among modern preparative purification techniques, alongside manual chromatography and other automated systems.