BIOCHEMICAL SEPARATIONS BY CONTINUOUS-BED CHROMATOGRAPHY

Innovations in column-packing media for biomolecule purification have progressed from large spherical, porous polysaccharide beads to advanc ed polymeric supports. Continuous-bed technology is a radical new tech nology for chromatography based on the polymerization of advanced mono mers and ionomers directly in the chromatographic column. The polymer chains form aggregates which coalesce into a dense, homogeneous networ k of interconnected nodules consisting of microparticles with an avera ge diameter of 3000 Angstrom. The voids or channels between the nodule s are large enough to permit a high hydrodynamic flow. Due to the high cross-linking of the polymer matrix, the surface of each nodule is no nporous yet the polymeric microparticles provide a very large surface area for high binding capacity. This paper will demonstrate the proper ties and advantages of using a continuous bed support for high resolut ion biomolecule separations at high flow-rates without sacrificing cap acity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.