Discover our Microbiology Pharma Product List

Discover our Microbiology Pharma Product List

Sample Preparation and Cultivation

1. Basic Media and Supplements

• • INORGANIC SALTS & SPECIALTY PRODUCTS: Essential components for many culture media, ensuring the necessary mineral provision for microbial growth.
  • CARBOHYDRATES: Act as a primary carbon source, giving microorganisms essential energy.
  • AMINO ACIDS: Fundamental nutrients, enhancing the growth of specific microorganisms.
  • BLOOD DERIVATIVES: Used in enriched media like blood agar, facilitating the growth of fastidious microorganisms.

2. Selective and Differential Media

• • BILE ACIDS: Utilised in selective media to inhibit gram-positive bacteria and encourage gram-negative bacterial growth.
  • ANTIBIOTICS & PRESERVATIVES: Antibiotics prevent unwanted microbial growth in selective media, while preservatives extend the shelf life of solutions.

3. Stabilisers and Regulators

• • BUFFERS: Ensure that the pH level of culture media and solutions remains optimal, crucial for many microorganisms' growth.

Diagnosis and Detection

1. Staining and Visualisation

• • STAINS & INDICATORS: Stains, like the Gram stain, differentiate and identify microorganisms. Indicators help detect pH changes or specific bio-productions.
  • CHROMOGENIC SUBSTRATES: Chromogenic substrates are colourless soluble molecules consisting of a chromophore – a chemical group that, after enzymatic cleavage, releases colour – and a specific enzymatic substrate. They are synthetically produced and are designed to possess a selectivity similar to the natural substrate for the enzyme. These compounds are useful for enzymatic detection, as chromogenic substrates specifically bind with the target enzyme. This reaction allows the enzyme to catalyze the separation of the chromophore group, resulting in an insoluble product with a distinctive colour – releasing the chromophore – that confirms the existence and activity of the enzyme under study.

2. Biochemical and Enzymatic Tests and Molecular Detection

1. • ENZYMES: Crucial for determining the enzymatic activity of microorganisms in various biochemical tests.
   • NUCLEIC ACIDS AND DERIVATIVES: Integral for molecular techniques, facilitating precise identification and diagnosis.

Special and Auxiliary Products

• • OTHER KEY PRODUCTS: This general category encompasses essential products specifically tailored for microbiological techniques and procedures.

Article written by Sherry Cacay, Marketing Manager of DC Fine Chemicals

Discover our Microbiology Product List

by Núria

Discover our Quality ACS Reagents From DC Fine Chemicals

Discover our Quality ACS Reagents From DC Fine Chemicals

At DC Fine Chemicals, we focus on quality and innovation. We maintain a high level of quality of both the products and service which we provide. This is especially important in the supply of analytical reagents. From this background, we bring you a range of ACS reagents, produced and tested to conform to the American Chemical Society monograph for analytical reagents. This range meets the quality benchmark for analytical reagents, offering our customers reliable products for analysis and production where this standard is required. This ensures reliability, consistency thus reproducibility for your analyses and processes.

Reliability through reliable analyses

Our analytical reagents are rigorously tested in our in-house QC lab to ensure conformance. We know that the quality and purity of the analytical reagents used is decisive for the daily tasks performed in the laboratory.

Article written by Sherry Cacay, Marketing Manager of DC Fine Chemicals

Discover our ACS Reagent Chemicals

by Núria

Discover our range of Chromogenic Substrates

Discover our range of Chromogenic Substrates

Chromogenic substrates are colourless soluble molecules made up of two parts:

1. a chromophore - a chemical group that, after enzymatic cleavage, releases colour and,
2. a specific enzymatic substrate, usually a digestible carbohydrate

These compounds are useful for enzymatic detection, as chromogenic substrates specifically bind with the target enzyme. This reaction allows the enzyme to catalyze the separation of the chromophore group, resulting in an insoluble product with a distinctive colour that confirms the existence and activity of the enzyme under study. The intensity of the colour can be quantified in chromogenic assays in techniques such as Western blot, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, enzymatic assays, and microbial detection in culture media.

Why use Chromogenic Substrates?

Chromogenic substrates have applications in various areas:

• Microbiology: For use in culture media, diagnostic tests in clinical laboratories, identification of microorganisms, and in the food industry.
• Biotechnology: For colourimetric detection, providing a cost-effective detection technique, from immunohistochemistry to Western blot and ELISA.

https://www.dcfinechemicals.com/en/blog/chromogenic-substrates-overview/

Our new range of Chromogenic Substrates

At DC Fine Chemicals, we have a new range of chromogenic substrates. We have sorted them according to the colour they produce, the name of the substrate, other synonyms they are known by, their CAS number, and the type of enzyme they specifically bind to.

• Lapis Substrates (Deep Blue)
• X-Substrates (Blue Green)
• Magenta Substrates (Magenta to Lilac)
• Salmon Substrates (Pink)
• Other Chromogenic Substrates

If you want to learn more about these substrates and how they can enhance your operations, we are here to help. Please contact us at info@dcfinechemicals.com to arrange a meeting with one of our team.

Article written by Sherry Cacay, Marketing Manager of DC Fine Chemicals

Discover our Chromogenic Substrates

by Núria

With an investment of 7 million euros, DC Fine Chemicals boosts employment and sustainability at its new headquarters

• DC Fine Chemicals, with an investment of 7 million euros in its new headquarters, forecasts a 20% increase in job creation, reaffirming its international presence and commitment.
• The new DC Fine Chemicals center stands out for tripling the previous space and increasing storage and palletizing capacity, while also reinforcing its commitment to sustainability through the implementation of photovoltaic panels and green areas.
• The event was attended by notable figures such as the Mayor of Terrassa, the Director General of Industry of the Generalitat of Catalonia, prominent entities such as CECOT, the Chamber of Commerce of Terrassa, FEDEQUIM, and the Higher School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering of Terrassa (ESEIAAT).

Barcelona, Spain – DC Fine Chemicals, an international provider in the supply of fine chemical products for the areas of Diagnosis, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Industry, and Process Solutions, has celebrated the laying of the first stone at its new headquarters in Terrassa. The event was attended by the Mayor of Terrassa, the Director General of Industry of the Generalitat of Catalonia, and prominent entities such as CECOT, the Chamber of Commerce of Terrassa, FEDEQUIM, and the Higher School of Industrial, Aerospace, and Audiovisual Engineering of Terrassa (ESEIAAT).

In addition to its headquarters in the UK, DC Fine Chemicals is expanding its operations to a 7300 m² site in Terrassa, tripling the space of its former facilities. The new building, measuring 3050 m², allows for total storage without the need for external warehouses and a palletizing capacity of up to 1900 pallets, compared to the 900 pallets of its old warehouse.

With a diverse catalog that includes bile acids, nucleic acids, amino acids, antimicrobials, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), carbohydrates, dyes and indicators, enzymes, excipients, analytical reagents, and biological buffers, DC Fine Chemicals is able to provide tailor-made solutions adapted to the needs of its clients. Its commitment to quality and innovation has been accredited with ISO 9001 certifications since 2011, GDP since 2018, and ISO 14001 since 2021. The company's new facilities constitute the perfect space to foster the development of new projects and accelerate the company's expansion.

Josep Mª Cortés, General Manager of DC Fine Chemicals, said, “This significant project, backed by an investment of 7 million euros, not only expands our production and storage capacities but also strengthens our ongoing growth objective.” He concluded, "This future plant, which in its first phase will triple our current capacity, will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for the storage and handling of various types of chemical substances”.

On the other hand, during the symbolic act of laying the first stone, Juli Orihuela, Director of Business Development, stated: "We have started the crucial stage of the plant construction. With this expansion, we anticipate a 20% growth in job creation."

Advances in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

The new facilities, with a height of 14.5 m and 7 palletizing levels, represent a significant improvement in terms of safety and efficiency. Additionally, the site has 46 parking spaces and between 2 and 4 charging points for electric vehicles.

The new center also presents significant advances in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency. The facilities are equipped with 108 photovoltaic panels of 2 x 1 m, capable of generating 50 kW, emphasizing the company's commitment to clean energy and reducing environmental impact. The design of the headquarters also incorporated green areas to complement its commitment to the environment.

In line with these values, DC Fine Chemicals was recently recognized for its commitment to the planet by voluntarily joining the 'Voluntary Agreements Program for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)', promoted by the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Official Act for the Laying of the First Stone of the New Headquarters

This morning, the official act of laying the first stone took place, which was presided over by the Mayor of Terrassa, Jordi Ballart and Pastor, and attended by representatives from various economic entities and business organizations.

Jordi Ballart i Pastor, Mayor of Terrassa, expressed his support for the expansion of DC Fine Chemicals in the city: "With the arrival of DC Fine Chemicals, Terrassa reinforces its role in the region as an industrial powerhouse of the country, attracting companies with growth perspectives. We are located in an exceptional location, connected by the main communication routes of the region, and have a strong and powerful business fabric, as well as industrial land to continue enhancing synergies, consolidating existing value chains and attracting new investments that can offer job opportunities for the people of Terrassa.”

For his part, Oriol Alcoba, Director General of Industry, said: “The decision of DC Fine Chemicals to expand in Terrassa is a tangible demonstration of the vitality and ability to attract new projects of our chemical industry. This milestone represents a perfect combination of entrepreneurship, innovation, and respect for sustainability, aspects that are fundamental for the industrial development of Catalonia."

Joan Roget, President of the Catalan Chemical Industry Business Federation (FEDEQUIM), congratulated DC Fine Chemicals on their achievement: “We welcome a "different kind of Chemistry." In Vallès, there's a new heavyweight player with strong foundations in Science and People Relations. This will undoubtedly help strengthen the entire chemical and health sciences “cluster” (if we can call it that) in our environment. Friends Josep Maria, Juli, and Lenny, knowing you, I am sure you will achieve the greatest successes in this new phase that begins now!”

Xavier Panés, president of the Cecot employer's association, spoke about the need to increase the weight of the industrial sector in our economic model: “Beyond recent statements at the European level in favor of strategic sovereignty and the reindustrialization that Europe needs, at Cecot we have always argued that industrial companies bring innovation and research as the foundation of economic productivity, more balanced trade balances, higher-qualified jobs, and ultimately contribute to greater well-being and social cohesion in the territory where they operate. Thus, the decision of DC Fine Chemicals to expand with a new headquarters aligns completely with this purpose we share, and I also want to highlight that they are doing so in one of the most industrialized regions of southern Europe, Vallès. Without a doubt, through networking, we hope to contribute to their growth and improve their competitiveness".

Nacho Navarro, Second Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Terrassa said, “The recovery of industrial weight in Terrassa is a strategic and structural necessity that should guide the efforts of all the socio-economic institutions of the city in the shortest term, and the Chamber offers all its business and relational capabilities to contribute to this."

As part of the symbolic ceremony of the first stone, the act consisted of burying a chest that contained letters written by the partners, messages from employees, an erlenmeyer flask representing fine chemistry, a document recounting this day signed by the partners and entities, plans of the warehouse, the Terrassa Diary, and current coins.

by Núria

The Importance of High-Quality Chemicals in Cell Culture: Growing Cells as Model Systems In Vitro

Cell culture is used for large molecule production and for research, in the study of cellular and molecular biology. Rapidly evolving vaccine production is done by cell culture. In research, by creating model systems that replicate disease mechanisms, researchers can investigate the toxicity of novel drug compounds and explore the role of genes in health and disease.

At DC Fine Chemicals, we support cell culture projects with our high-quality chemicals and reagents, such as:

Antibiotics

Polymyxin B

Dihydrostreptomycin

Biological buffers

ACES

HEPES

MOPS

Tris

Nutrients

Ascorbic acid

D-Biotin

Calcium D-pantothenate

Glucose

Inositol

Sodium pyruvate

Inorganics and pH indicators

Ammonium chloride

Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate

Di-Sodium hydrogen phosphate

Phenol red

Osmotic regulators

Urea

Please contact us if you are using any of these reagents. Let's collaborate and contribute to the success of your cell culture experiments.

For a deeper understanding of cell culture and its applications, explore the comprehensive review by Segeritz and Vallier (2017): "Cell Culture: Growing Cells as Model Systems In Vitro," available at doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-803077-6.00009-6, PMCID: PMC7149418

by Núria

Richard, new Sales Manager

New Sales Manager

Richard Bradley has joined the sales team at DC Fine Chemicals. Richard has extensive experience within the Fine Chemicals sector, having spent 20 years with Apollo Scientific in the UK. Alongside his sales responsibilities within the Life Sciences sector, he was also responsible for marketing. Prior to this, he worked as a lab technician after graduating with honours in Chemistry with Applied Chemistry from Newcastle University.

Richard will be responsible for the UK and Ireland markets and we are confident that his experience across many regions and knowledge of new and interesting products will be a great addition to our expertise at DC Fine Chemicals.

Contact: 

Email: richardb@dcfinechemicals.com

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrad38/

by Núria

DC Fine Chemicals will open new facilities in 2023

Will open new facilities in 2023

DC Fine Chemicals is a supplier of fine chemicals, primarily to the life sciences, diagnostics, pharmaceutical and process solutions industries.

It has a catalog of more than 10,000 chemical substances in the following categories: bile acids, nucleic acids, amino acids, antimicrobials, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), carbohydrates, dyes and indicators, enzymes, excipients, analytical reagents and biological buffers. .

Headquartered in Cornellà de Llobregat for the last eight years, DC Fine Chemicals has grown rapidly and steadily since its creation in 2007. The need to increase storage capacity, the expansion of its laboratories and the constant increase in the number of employees, has prompted the fine chemical Company to make a strategic decision to change location and move to new facility of more than 7,000 m2.

The future plant, which, in a first phase, will triple the current capacity, “will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to store and handle chemical substances of a diverse nature,” says Josep M Cortés, Managing Director of the Company. The new location is also located in a first-class commercial center where other companies in the sector are also located.

DC Fine Chemicals is commitment to quality and innovation and is accredited to ISO 9001 certification (since 2011),  GDP certification (since 2018) and ISO 14001 certification (since 2021).

The new facilities will be the perfect setting to develop new projects and promote the expansion of the company.

Mr Cortés pointed out that the transfer will allow for “greater flexibility and level of customer service, by enhancing the ability to manage larger volumes of production with greater robustness.”

The new headquarters will be located at Avenida del Vallès, 370 in Terrassa (Barcelona) and its completion is scheduled for the second half of 2023.

by Núria

DC Fine Chemicals earns bronze medal for sustainability

DC Fine Chemicals earns bronze medal for sustainability

As part of our goal towards sustainability at DC Fine Chemicals, we have been audited by EcoVadis and were awarded a bronze medal.

EcoVadis is the first and largest supply chain sustainability rating platform. Having received a bronze qualification at the first attempt we are encouraged to consolidate our processes and to make further improvements with a view to improved sustainability and higher ratings in future.

Our main focus for continued compliance and sustainability improvements will be:

– Waste management and recycling

– Reduction in resource and energy use

– Continuous improvement of environmental compliance (ISO14001)

We are very proud of the assessment of our systems by EcoVadis and hope that it will be recognised by our partners as beneficial to the wider community and the world.

by Núria

DC Fine Chemicals has committed to the Diversity Charter

DC Fine Chemicals has committed to the Diversity Charter

This initiative promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace

In its commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities, DC Fine Chemicals signed up to the Diversity Charter. This European Commission initiative seeks to promote diversity as a key element in achieving inclusive work environments and promoting social progress.

“We agree completely with the principles of inclusion and diversity so are very pleased to have received the Foundation for Diversity accreditation,” said Juli Orihuela, the company’s Director of People.

The announcement has been enthusiastically received by the entire team and the company is determined to promote these principles not only in its immediate environment, but among all its stakeholders.

The commitment to these values ​​is clearly reflected in the DC Fine Chemicals team. With a workforce of 26 employees from 5 nationalities, the company has the same number of women as men and a good representation of all working ages: from young people, taking their first steps in the world of work, to colleagues close to retirement age.

by Núria

Margarita, our new sales manager

Margarita, our new sales manager

Margarita Lopez has joined the sales team at DC Fine Chemicals. She has 5 years experience with a Barcelona based speciality chemical company first in logistics and then in business development for the French market. Prior to that her education and experience was in business, marketing and administration.

Born in Colombia, she has studied and worked in France and Spain. Margarita is fluent in Spanish, English and French and has knowledge of Italian, Catalan and German.

Margarita will be responsible for parts of the Spanish and European market. We are excited to be working with her and are sure that her experience and positive attitude will be an asset for our company.

by Núria