MOLECULAR TRAP™
PRODUCT FACT SHEET
Usage:
Molecular Traps are shipped fully activated, in evacuated foil packets and are ready for immediate use. Recommended usage is one large Molecular Trap, SP-MT10, for 1 to 4 liter bottles, one medium Molecular Trap, SP-MT5, for 250 ml - 1 Liter and one small Molecular Trap, SP-MT02, for 50 - 250 ml bottles. This usage assumes that the user has added the Molecular Trap to maintain a low water solvent or solution: to produce a low water solution from reagent grade material, at least two Molecular Traps per bottle, and waiting at least 48 hours prior to use, is recommended, (see Capacity discussion below).
Quality Assurance:
Each manufactured lot is use tested, by Karl-Fisher determination, by quantifying water removal from a "spiked" sample of acetonitrile. For the customer, product quality is assured by examining the package before use: First, by verifying that the packet vacuum is intact; any loss of vacuum indicates air entry which would reduce the performance of the product. The second check is to look for any powder leakage inside the foil packet. When the sealing vacuum is applied, any weak point in the integrity of the Molecular Trap membrane will reveal itself by "leaking" powder into the foil packet.
Capacity:
The large Molecular Trap will irreversibly absorb up to 2 grams (2 ml) of water from solvents or solutions. The small Molecular Trap will absorb up to 400 milligrams (400 µl) of water. To gage water absorption; 1 microliter of water per liter of solvent = 1 ppm. HPLC grade acetonitrile is manufactured with 10 to 20 ppm of water, which is ca. 80 ul of water in a 4 liter bottle. The Molecular Trap must maintain water levels below 50 ppm, or 200 ul of water per 4 liters, to be effective for use in DNA synthesis.
Materials:
Molecular Traps, SP-MT02 (2 gram), SP-MT05 (5 gram), & SP-MT10 (10 gram) are made from ultrapure, electronics grade, microporous, hydrophobic membrane. The effective filtration of the membrane is 0.2µ. This membrane material is tested safe for long term exposure to the solvents detailed in the chart below. The bulk molecular sieves are pharmaceutical grade quality and are activated and processed before manufacture.
Applications Suitability:
Molecular Traps have been functionally tested for use in DNA synthesis on ABI model 392 & 394 synthesizers, and on Millign/PerSeptive Biosystems models
(Cyclone), 8700, 8800 and the 8900 (Expedite) synthesizers. Molecular Traps are designed to be used directly on the instrument in the main acetonitrile bottle, the tetrazole (activator) bottle and in the amidite bottles (8800).
Molecular Traps have also been functionally tested for use in maintaining "superdry" ethanol (following triazeotopic distillation w/benzene), and in the
specific maintenance of anhydrous solvents through daily laboratory usage.
NOTE: Molecular Traps are not designed to be used in aqueous solutions! Avoid exposure to solvents with high water content as heat may be produced.
Disposal:
Molecular Traps are non-hazardous as received. Once used, they become contaminated with the chemicals and solvents they are exposed to and then should be treated as contaminated waste. For volatile solvents (e. g. acetonitrile), the exposed traps should be allowed to dry in a hood and then can be disposed of in the trash. Care should be taken to avoid tearing the membrane pouch as molecular sieve dust can be irritating to eyes and mouth.
Sizes:
We currently offer Molecular traps in 2, 5 and 10 gram traps are standard, but 25, 50 and 100 gram traps can be special ordered also.
MOLECULAR TRAP SOLVENT COMPATIBILITY CHART
Suitable for Extended Exposure Suitable for Limited Exposure
Acetone Methylene Chloride
Acetonitrile Tetrahydrofuran
Acetic Acid (glacial) Toluene
Diethyl ether
Dimethylformamide
p-Dioxane
Ethyl Acetate
Ethyl Alcohol
Hexane/Heptane
Isopropyl Alcohol
Methyl Alcohol
Methylethyl Ketone
