Productivity Model for Separation of Proteins Using Ceramic Monoliths As a Stationary Phase

Abstract

The compact geometry and outstanding mechanical properties of ceramic monoliths are valuable features when designing reusable standard affinity chromatography columns. High throughput protein separations are becoming standard industrial practice. Column reuse is an important consideration for the development of separation processes when production rate per unit volume of column is taken into account. Due to the cost and downtime needed to regenerate chromatographic columns, throughput depends on the use of the same column for several adsorption–desorption cycles without a significant loss in adsorption. An adsorption–desorption dynamic model was developed and used to estimate the optimum reuse of ceramic monolith columns in affinity chromatography. The model experimental metal chelate affinity chromatography (IMAC) system is a ceramic monolith covered with agarose type D-5 activated with 1.4 butanediol diglycidyl ether as spacer arm, iminodiacetic acid as chelating agent, and Cu2+ as ligand. The effect of performing several adsorption/elution cycles on column performance was evaluated using five monoliths at different flow rates, for a total of five cycles each. The strategy used to interpret experimental results leads to a theoretical model for successive monolith reuses that can be readily used to determine the optimal reuse of monoliths on the basis of maximum production rate per volume of chromatographic columns.

A robust affinity chromatography system based on ceramic monoliths coated with poly(amino acid)‐based polymeric constructs

“…These effects result in very low flow rates and throughput and poor reusability. [10][11][12][13] To tackle these problems, ceramic monoliths were introduced as support for affinity chromatography. 10 Ceramic monoliths, arrays of straight capillaries usually in square or triangular shape, are used massively in automotive catalytic converters for the reduction of pollutants.…”

“…They consist of a synthetic cordierite, 2MgO•2Al 2 O 3 •5SiO 2 , and are made by an extrusion process. 2,10,13 The extrusion process leads to high cell density (31-186 cells cm -2 ) and thin walls (0.051-0.27 mm) [10][11][12] configuring straight narrow parallel channels with a very low flow pressure drop. [13][14][15][16] The wall surface of ceramic monoliths is a chemically inert solid with high resistance to acids and bases.…”

“…The development of traditional affinity chromatography methods based on gel bead packings has been hampered by a high pressure drop across the column, bead deformation and packing compression. These effects result in very low flow rates and throughput and poor reusability 10–13 . To tackle these problems, ceramic monoliths were introduced as support for affinity chromatography 10 .…”