Continuous countercurrent spiral chromatography

A continuous countercurrent spiral chromatography system having a plurality of modules, comprising:

• a binding step module for binding product from an unpurified product solution with a resin slurry;
• a washing step module for washing impurities from the resin slurry;
• and
• a regeneration step module for regenerating the resin slurry,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of modules is a continuous countercurrent spiral chromatography module including:
• a first input port for receiving an input solution;
• a first mixer for mixing the input solution with a recycled solution from a second input port to produce a first mixed output;
• a stage I separator for concentrating the first mixed output to produce a stage I solid fraction, wherein a stage I liquid fraction exits the stage I separator via a first output port;
• a second mixer for mixing the stage I solid fraction from the stage I separator and an optional buffer solution from a third input port to produce a second mixed output;
• a stage II separator for concentrating the second mixed output to produce a stage II solid fraction which exits the module from the stage II separator via a second output port, wherein a stage II liquid fraction exits the module from the stage II separator via a third output port;
• and
• at least one pump,
• wherein the recycled solution from the third output port flows countercurrent to the input solution into the second input port, and
• wherein at least one of the stage I separator and the stage II separator is a spiral separator, the spiral separator including:
• at least one inlet;
• a curvilinear channel arranged and disposed to generate at least one Dean vortex;
• at least one liquid fraction outlet;
• and
• at least one solid fraction outlet.

A method for purifying an unpurified solution by continuous countercurrent spiral chromatography with a plurality of modules, comprising:

• receiving the unpurified solution;
• receiving resin slurry from a resin slurry tank for containing the resin slurry, the resin slurry tank being isolated following discharge of the resin slurry from the resin slurry tank;
• a binding step for binding product in the unpurified product solution to the resin slurry from the resin slurry tank;
• a washing step for washing impurities from the resin slurry;
• optionally, an elution step for eluting product from the resin slurry after the washing step;
• capturing purified product solution;
• a regeneration step for cleaning the resin slurry;
• and
• providing buffer solutions for the steps,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of modules is a continuous countercurrent spiral chromatography module including:
• a first input port for receiving an input solution;
• a first mixer for mixing the input solution with a recycled solution from a second input port to produce a first mixed output;
• a stage I separator for concentrating the first mixed output to produce a stage I solid fraction, wherein a stage I liquid fraction exits the stage I separator via a first output port;
• a second mixer for mixing the stage I solid fraction from the stage I separator and an optional buffer solution from a third input port to produce a second mixed output;
• a stage II separator for concentrating the second mixed output to produce a stage II solid fraction which exits the module from the stage II separator via a second output port, wherein a stage II liquid fraction exits the module from the stage II separator via a third output port;
• and
• at least one pump,
• wherein the recycled solution from the third output port flows countercurrent to the input solution into the second input port, and
• wherein at least one of the stage I separator and the stage II separator is a spiral separator, the spiral separator including:
• at least one inlet;
• a curvilinear channel arranged and disposed to generate at least one Dean vortex;
• at least one liquid fraction outlet;
• and
• at least one solid fraction outlet.