Sigma-Aldrich Corp. has acquired Advanced Separation Technologies, Inc. (Astec). The acquisition will add chiral chromatography capabilities and product line, enabling the Sigma-Aldrich's Research Specialties business units to better support the analysis and purification of chiral compounds. Terms of the cash transaction were not disclosed.

"In addition to a wide range of proprietary chiral chromatography products, the acquisition of Astec brings the specialized knowledge of chiral separations embodied in its people," commented Russel Gant, vice president for Sigma-Aldrich's chromatography manufacturing site in Bellefonte, PA. "This enables our Research Specialties business to continue to expand the value we deliver to the scientific community."

Chiral chromatography is used to resolve chiral compounds from racemic mixtures into pure enantiomers. This method is often used for analysis and purification of chiral compounds in research, development, production and quality control.