Mathematical modelling and parametric studies of affinity chromatography

In this study a model based on mass transfer and sorption rate constants with physical significance is used for simulation of affinity chromatography, The simulation program has been used to perform a parametric analysis of the adsorption of lysozyme on Cibacron Blue-Sepharose CL-6B. The influence of process parameters as well as physical parameters on the chromatography process was investigated. The external and the internal mass transfer as well as the sorption rate were found to contribute to the control of the overall rate of the system. The most important process parameter was the radius of the beads. The optimum bead size was found to be around 50 mu m.