Chromatography column comprising an internal bracing

A chromatography column for bioprocess separations, said column comprising:

• a) a bed chamber delimited by at least one side wall in a radial direction, and a first bed support screen and a second bed support screen in an axial direction, wherein said first and second bed support screens are sheets of porous material, arranged to retain separation matrix particles within the bed chamber;
• b) a first end wall, secured to or integral with said at least one side wall, with a first port fluidically connected via a first distributor to said first bed support screen;
• c) a second end wall, secured to or integral with said at least one side wall, with a second port fluidically connected via a second distributor to said second bed support screen;
• d) a packing port in one of said at least one side wall and first and second end walls;
• and
• e) an internal bracing secured to, or integral with, at least one of said first and second end walls and extending into said bed chamber, wherein said internal bracing comprises at least two rods, and is configured to dissipate longitudinal tension loads acting on said first and second end walls as a result of back-pressures that occur during use of the column, and wherein at least part of said internal bracing spans the entire axial height of the bed chamber, being secured to, or integral with, both of the first and second end walls.