Side-packed chromatographic column

A vertical flow chromatography column comprising:

• a. a column member having top and bottom openings and a longitudinal axis;
• b. a pair of frits located over said top and bottom openings of said column member;
• c. at least one packing port manufactured on said column member enabling sorbent to be packed and unpacked from said column member;
• d. a removable plug attachable to said packing port capable of opening or closing said packing port;
• e. a pair of upper and lower lids attached over said top and bottom openings of said column member and over said frits disposed thereon, said upper and lower lids capable of evenly distributing a liquid sample placed thereon;
• f. at least one sealing member disposed between said upper and lower lids and said column member for sealing said top and bottom openings of said column member;
• g. at least one inlet plumbing port located on said upper lid to enable a liquid sample to be placed inside said column member;
• and,
• h. at least one outlet plumbing port located on said lower lid to remove a liquid sample from said column member, said outlet plumbing port being disposed on said lower lid so that said inlet plumbing port and said outlet plumbing port are on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said column member when said lids are attached to said column member.