Automated chromatography column switching control based on pressure detection
AssigneeCytiva Sweden AB
InventorKarol Maciej Lacki
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Abstract
Certain embodiments of the invention provides a method for monitoring level of saturation of a chromatography media in a column, which method comprises measuring a first pressure at the inlet of an unloaded column; measuring a second pressure at the inlet from a loaded column; and comparing the first and second pressure measurement to determine the level of saturation of the chromatography media. Embodiments of the invention also provide related methods for controlling a chromatography system and methods for controlling a periodic counter current chromatography system, as well as a chromatography system suitable for use with the novel methods.
Claims20
A method for monitoring level of saturation of a chromatography media in a column, which method comprises
- providing an unloaded column;
- measuring a first pressure at the inlet of the unloaded column;
- loading a sample into the unloaded column to form a loaded column;
- measuring a second pressure at the inlet from the loaded column;
- comparing the first and second pressure measurement to determine the level of saturation of the chromatography media;
- and
- stopping the loading of the sample and initiating a column wash step if the level of saturation has reached a saturation point level, wherein the level of saturation is continuously monitored during a chromatography process by measuring the second pressure continuously.
A method for controlling a chromatography system comprising at least one column, comprising the steps of:
- determining a saturation level of the at least one chromatography column, wherein the determining of the saturation level comprises (i) providing the at least one chromatography column in an unloaded state, and measuring a first pressure at the inlet of the at least one unloaded chromatography column, (ii) loading a sample in the at least one unloaded chromatography column to produce at least one loaded chromatography column, and measuring a second pressure at the inlet from the at least one loaded chromatography column, and (iii) comparing the first and second pressure measurement to determine the saturation level;
- and
- stopping the loading of the sample and initiating a column wash step if the level of saturation has reached a saturation point level, wherein the level of saturation is continuously monitored during a chromatography process by measuring the second pressure continuously.
A chromatography system comprising at least one chromatography column, further comprising:
- a first detector adapted to measure a first and second pressure at the feed line between the feed pump and the inlet of the at least one column, wherein the first pressure is measured for the unloaded column and the second pressure is measured for the loaded column;
- an optional second detector adapted to measure a pressure at an effluent line from a first column of the system;
- and
- a determining unit connected to said detectors and adapted to determine saturation level of the first column based on comparing said first and second pressures.
The chromatography system according to 8, comprising at least two columns in a periodic counter current system and further comprising further detectors, one after each further column, each further detector being adapted to measure a further pressure at the effluent line from each further column, each detector being connected to the determining unit, said determining unit being adapted to continuously during the chromatography process determine saturation level of each chromatography column based on the pressure measured by the first, second and further detectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.