Simulation of chromatographic processes applied to separation of proteins

The advantages of using a detailed mathematical model for fixed bed chromatography is demonstrated by the personal computer program SIMCHROM. The chromatography model includes axial dispersion in the bulk liquid, external and internal mass transfer resistances and an instationary non-linear adsorption model. Frontal and pulse chromatography can be studied for single and multicomponent systems. The simulation program can easily be used to make parametric evaluations to study the influence of variations in physical, kinetical and operating parameters. The special features of the present intrinsic model is demonstrated by comparing the SIMCHROM results With simulations using simplified lumped models. Experimental data describing affinity chromatography of lysozyme on Cibacron Blue Sepharose CL-6B is used as a model system. The intrinsic model is able to describe variations in the physical, kinetic and operating parameters better than the simplified models. This results in a more reliable prediction of the performance of the chromatography process as well as a better understanding of che underlying mechanisms responsible for the separation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.