Experimental verification and optimisation of a detailed dynamic high performance liquid chromatography column model

Detailed mathematical models of chromatographic separation processes is of crucial importance due to the increased application of this separation tech nique in the downstream processes of the biotechnological, pharmaceutical a nd fine chemical industries. In this paper, a detailed dynamic model of a h igh performance liquid chromatographic unit was experimentally verified and used as the basis for the optimisation of a preparative chromatographic se paration using closed-loop recycling operation. Results confirmed that tile effective column length could be increased by as much as 200% by recycling the feed sample back to the column for further purification with a concomi tant improvement in purity and yield of the process. Data is presented to s how the limitations of the method and the influence of key variables on col umn performance. Q 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.