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Encapsulation & Inorganic Controlled Release (iCRT)
Are you working with sensitive compounds and need a technology to protect them?
Organic molecules often impart beneficial functionality to products, but are often sensitive to “harsh” environments, including:
- High temperatures
- Extreme pH
- Chemical attack
- Strong ionic concentrations
- Exposure to organic solvents.
Many encapsulation technologies are also organic (polymer) based, making them of little use for applications where shielding or protection is desired – either during processing/manufacturing, or in the end application / in use.
Lucideon's encapsulation and controlled release technology platforms (iCRT) use inorganic materials, such as silicate- and phosphate- based glasses or ceramics. Naturally, these materials are much more resistant to extreme environments:
| Property | Application / Benefit |
|---|---|
| Very high melting temperatures (>1000C) | High temperature applications e.g. combustion processes, high temperature or exothermic catalytic reactions, cooking ingredients |
| Selective and tailored solubility in aqueous vs. organic solvents | Process steps often involve organic solvents e.g. ethanol, so having a temporary shield could improve yield and storage stability |
| Tailored solubility at different extremes of pH or ionic strength | Many products are made in extreme pH, or even exist in extreme pH e.g. cleaning solutions and detergents – encapsulating the active ingredient during storage could improve efficacy |
Not only can iCRT encapsulate materials, but it is also a controlled release technology, and the release rate of your ingredient can be tailored from minutes to months, to suit your application.
Do you have a product that could benefit from encapsulation under extreme conditions? Please contact us to discuss whether iCRT could offer a solution.