Influence of particle size and shell thickness of core–shell packing materials on optimum experimental conditions in preparative chromatography

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A 2015-08, Vol.1407, p.100-105
• Main Authors: Horváth, Krisztián, Felinger, Attila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Core–shell particle; Optimization of separation; Preparative chromatography; Production rate; Recovery yield; Simplex method
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2015.06.037

•Applicability of core–shell phases in preparative separations was studied by computational approach.•Increasing the size of non-porous core decreases column loadability.•If particle size can be optimized for a given separation, the use of core–shell is not beneficial.•Core–shell phases should be employed to build preparative columns for general use. The applicability of core–shell phases in preparative separations was studied by a modeling approach. The preparative separations were optimized for two compounds having bi-Langmuir isotherms. The differential mass balance equation of chromatography was solved by the Rouchon algorithm. The results show that as the size of the core increases, larger particles can be used in separations, resulting in higher applicable flow rates, shorter cycle times. Due to the decreasing volume of porous layer, the loadability of the column dropped significantly. As a result, the productivity and economy of the separation decreases. It is shown that if it is possible to optimize the size of stationary phase particles for the given separation task, the use of core–shell phases are not beneficial. The use of core–shell phases proved to be advantageous when the goal is to build preparative column for general purposes (e.g. for purification of different products) in small scale separations.