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Dear reader,

Welcome to our first Biqualys Quarterly. This news update was developed following our aspiration to support research, by looking beyond the ordinary and to learn from combining insights from other disciplines. The reason is simple: insights come from anywhere! 

Biqualys Quarterly is our update for researchers and innovators and provides an open innovation platform and news medium to disseminate learning or to raise questions to a wide audience.  Just let us know where you are stuck and we can help you start solving your challenges today! 

Please take some time to read this update and tell us what you think. Does it inspire you, do you want to add items, or remove? Please let us know, so that we can become even better. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

The Biqualys Team

» Biqualys, 9 months on its way

Biqualys was launched October last year. It has been a very interesting time and it feels like a big jump into the unknown. Although we have been preparing for quite a while, you would expect all the efforts would have helped to pave the path. But then it appears that real life is very different. Then it comes to the more mundane stuff.

In the last months we have proved the need for highly advanced analytical skills. At the same time we inspire scientists by offering them a new playing field. Questions from clients are taken as candy. If there is any disappointment it comes from the lack of scientific challenges. Biqualys is a great partner: Offering highly advanced analytical skills, leaving the routine to others.

» 50k subsidy study on rapid identification method
   of polyphenols

In the last few years a lot of effort has been invested in the development of functional food (-ingredients) which are good for health. In some cases these health effects remain questionable.

Senter Novem granted Biqualys with a 50k subsidy to look into the feasibility of offering high throughput analysis of human body fluids to support the abovementioned health claims.

In order to identify these metabolites present in food as well as to identify the products of these metabolites in humans, an integration of advanced analytical methods and new software tools are needed.

If this feasibility study is successful, similar studies will be initiated for other difficult analytical methods, i.e. lycopenes, chondroïtine, tocopherols, vitamins, etc.

» Case study: Identification of unknown compounds in river

Last year at Eijsden (next to Maastricht) a mixture of unknown compounds above the threshold was detected via the automated LC-UV system (SAMOS) of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. This compounds had been detected in the past a couple of times, but could not be identified.

As a starting point at Biqualys we used 1H NMR measurements, which resulted in a few preliminary conclusions regarding the presence of several aromatic groups, some aldehydes and minor Chloride-bindings. Subsequently 1D-1H NMR and HMBC (1H-13C multiple bond correlation spectra) were executed which led to the identification of several related compounds with resonances between 6.6 en 8 ppm (aromatic H’s), at 4.6-4.8 ppm (CH2OH) and at 3.8 ppm. After more research all individual compounds could be identified, of which a number even did not have a CAS- identifier yet (CAS = Chemical Abstracts Service).

The difficulty with the identification was that condensation and further chemical reactions of these phenol derivates led to new compounds. In turn additional methyl groups could react with these new compounds by condensation with formaldehyde. Understanding the chemical reactions, based on advanced analysis, Biqualys provided results in about a month time.

If you are interested to learn more about this case, please contact us.

» Special summer sale at Biqualys

Summer is on its way and that is usually a perfect moment to work on activities that waited in a bottom drawer for quieter moments. At Biqualys we will be working on a number of internal research projects i.e. developing new assays for difficult analysis in food/ health ingredients, a model for lipoprotein profiling, characterisation of crude oil, etc.

If you happen to have a drawer that needs cleaning out, this is the time.
In July and August we offer the analysis at a 20% discount on the regular price.*

*Please ask for the conditions that apply.

» This quarter's challenge

All the time we are faced with challenges. Some are very urgent; others are
fun to get resolved, in rare cases both. If you want to participate in an
open Innovation Forum, to allow others to help you resolving your challenge, contact us for more information. In this Quarters' Challenge we have the following on offer:

One of our clients in the cocoa industry is faced with a very difficult problem. Due to several factors in the supply chain, there is a recent increase of mono- and diglycerides within the raw material.

This has an adverse effect on the crystallisation characteristics of the final product. Furthermore characteristics, such as viscosity and melting point,
in the process of making cocoa mass are affected.

Our client would like to learn whether there is a method to remove the mono-and diglycerides from the cocoa mass, in a safe, cost effective manner.

If you have a method available, or are interested in developing one, please
let us know and we will connect you to our client*

*Please ask for the conditions that apply

» Leadership and inspiration

If you have built castles in the air,
your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.
Now put foundations under them…

[ Henry David Thoreau | From ‘Conclusion to Walden’, found on: Space & Motion ]