Areas in which we offer our expertise

Our skills

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Environment and Civil Engineering

Scitec Research offers consulting services to industries that must ensure compliance with myriad ordinances and directives. In agreement with its customers, Scitec Research establishes analytical programs to ensure compliance with applicable statutes and, as necessary, provides remedial compliance solutions.

Routine analytical programs to assess compliance with the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) in the following areas :

  • Ordinance on waste limitation and disposal

  • Ordinance on water protection

  • Ordinance on contaminated sites (OSites)

  • Ordinance on impact on the soils (OSol)

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Pharmaceutical industry

  • Development of analytical methods for analysis of pharmaceutical compounds by LC-MS/MS

  • Chemical and microbiological analysis of supplied water, purified water, and water for injections

  • Validation and monitoring of environmentally controlled cleanrooms ISO 5-9 (ISO 14644 / EU GMP Annex I). Analysis of viable and non-viable particles and control of surfaces

  • Development of site-specific micro-bacterial databases

  • Contamination surveillance and environmental quality monitoring

  • Testing of efficacy of antimicrobial preservation (challenge test), microbiological control of cosmetics

  • Control of production batches and specifications, stability testing

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Water quality assessment

  • Determination of mineral water potability according to the Swiss regulations

  • Analysis of ultra-traces of micro-pollutants (phytosanitary products and drug residues such as chlorothalonil, benzidine, glyphosate) in drinking water and wastewater

  • Monitoring of S1 / S2 / S3 zones, containing water well pumps and phreatic napes

  • Evaluation of bacteriological water quality (mesophilic aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Intestinal Enterococci)

  • Determination of Legionella in showers, swimming pools, spas, domestic hot water, cooling water, medical and dental offices

  • Analytical program for exportation of mineral water to the U.S.

  • Search for specific pathogens (e.g., Cryptosporidium)

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Cannabis and related products

Potency of CBD and THC
Cannabinoid content
Terpene profile
Residual solvents, Ethanol and Acetone
Heavy metals (As, Cd, Ni, Pb, Zn, Hg)
Screening of common pesticides (incl. extraction)
Microbiology

Total contents

Compounds :

CBDA + CBD, THCA + THC

Many countries set maximum THC and CBD levels for legal cannabis. Switzerland's THC legal limit is set to a maximum of 1%. This maximum level varies between 0.2% and 0.6% in most of the European countries.

Analysis by liquid chromatography with diode array detector (LC-DAD)

Cannabinoids content

Compounds :

∆9-THC (Tetrahydrocannbinol), CBD (Cannabidiol), CBN (Cannabinol), CBG (Cannabigerol), CBC (Cannabichromene), THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid) Other cannabinoids on request

Cannabinoids, along with terpenes, are the active ingredients giving the plant its effects. These compounds also determine the plant's aromatic profile.

Analysis by liquid chromatography with diode array detector (LC-DAD)

Terpenes profile

Compounds :

β-Pinene, β-Caryophylene, Phytol, Limonene, Geraniol, 1S-(-)-Camphor, Terpinolene, β-Eudesmol, (+)-Borneol, cis-Nerolidol, (-)-α-Terpineol, (1S)-(+)-3-Carene, Lianlool, p-Cymene

Terpenes are molecules that widely contribute to the aromatic profile, taste and smell of the cannabis and its derived products. The terpenes profile is specific to each variety of cannabis; this profile also varies based on environmental factors and age of the plant.

Analysis by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS)

Residual solvents

Compounds :

  • Ethanol and Acetone (pack 1)
  • Chloroform, Dichloromethane, Hexane, Tetrahydrofuran, Toluene, Heptane, Pentane (pack 2)
  • Other solvents on request

The production of tinctures / isolates from cannabis sometimes requires the use of solvents. Unwanted residual traces of these solvents can be highlighted with this analysis.

Analysis by gas chromatography coupled to a mass detector with head space sampling (Headspace GC-MS)

Heavy metals

Compounds :

Arsenic, Cadmium, Nickel, Lead, Zinc and Mercury, other metals on request

Heavy metals are known to be highly toxic. The absence of heavy metals is required by certain countries' laws and pharmacopoeias.

Analysis by inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry detection (ICP-OES)

Screening of common pesticides

Compounds :

The screening identifies 30 phytosanitary products commonly used in European agriculture, with a detection limit of 10 µg / kg. This list can be customized upon request.

Phytosanitary residues are a growing concern in all agricultural activities. Their use is regulated by most national laws, in order to protect the health of consumers.

Analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass detector (HPLC-MS / MS)

Microbiology

Pathogens :

Aerobic mesophilic germs, Mold, Enterobacteriacea, E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococci

The hygiene of cannabis products and its derivatives is assessed by the overall quantification of aerobic germs and by the search for targeted pathogens.

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Food safety

Microbiological analysis of the following pathogens:

  • Bacillus cereus
  • Enterobacteriaceae
  • Escherichia coli
  • Mesophilic aerobic germs
  • Listeria monocytogenes / 25 g (qualitative)
  • Listeria monocytogenes quantitative
  • Salmonella / 25g (qualitative)
  • Coagulase positive staphylococci
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Pollution and health

  • Analysis of asbestos in air and materials

  • Determination of concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in materials and in air

  • Pollutants released by friction of surfaces (metals, PAH)

  • Analysis of micropollutants (phytosanitary products, endocrine disruptors, residues of pharmaceutical compounds)

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Construction

  • Analysis of asbestos in materials using polarized light microscopy in accordance with ISO 22262-1

  • Asbestos analysis in air using SEM-EDX in accordance with VDI 3492

  • PCBs in building materials (e.g., seals)

  • Verification of compliance of the quality of circulating water for heating and cooling systems in accordance with the SWKI BT 102-01 SICC directive

  • Water corrosivity index

  • Water aggressiveness toward concrete

  • Validation of epoxy resin pipes used for mains water distribution