Qz. Du et al., Low speed rotary countercurrent chromatography using a convoluted multilayer helical tube for industrial separation, ANALYT CHEM, 72(14), 2000, pp. 3363-3365
An industrial-scale countercurrent chromatographic system was developed usi
ng a slowly rotating helical device which can be automated and left unatten
ded during the operation. It uses a multilayer coiled column consisting of
long convoluted Teflon tubing of 0.85 cm i.d., which provides sufficient re
tention of the stationary phase under a relatively high flow rate, The colu
mn is mounted on a seal-less continuous-flow rotary device which eliminates
various complications such as leakage and clogging as often caused by the
use of a conventional rotary seal. Using a multilayer coiled column with a
10-L capacity, 150 g of crude tea extract was successfully purified, yieldi
ng 40 g of epigallocatechin Gallate of over 92.7% purity at a recovery rate
of 82.6%. The present system can be scaled up for a kilogram-scale separat
ion.