IN-SITU ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN CHROMATOGRAPHY AND COLUMN EFFICIENCY USING MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Magnetic resonance imaging has been used to Visualize size-based prote in separations inside operating chromatography columns. The effects of how nonuniformity have been observed and analyzed quantitatively thro ugh concentration profiles of tracers measured inside the column. Anal ysis of these profiles provides local and averaged intracolumn plate h eight values for characterization of dispersion and flow nonuniformity . The magnetic resonance measurements compare favorably with conventio nal chromatographic measurements of column efficiency and provide more detailed insights into nonideal column performance. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.