Why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbers

In preparative chromatography, a uniform flow distribution through the chromatography device is essential to get an effective ligand utilization and a breakthrough curve that is as steep as possible. Membrane adsorbers usually have a smaller aspect ratio (bed height to diameter ratio) than conventio...

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Main Authors: Franziska Hagemann, Denis Wypysek, Kristina Baitalow, Patrick Adametz, Volkmar Thom, Matthias Wessling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-11-01
Series:Journal of Chromatography Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772391721000293
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author Franziska Hagemann
Denis Wypysek
Kristina Baitalow
Patrick Adametz
Volkmar Thom
Matthias Wessling
author_facet Franziska Hagemann
Denis Wypysek
Kristina Baitalow
Patrick Adametz
Volkmar Thom
Matthias Wessling
author_sort Franziska Hagemann
collection DOAJ
description In preparative chromatography, a uniform flow distribution through the chromatography device is essential to get an effective ligand utilization and a breakthrough curve that is as steep as possible. Membrane adsorbers usually have a smaller aspect ratio (bed height to diameter ratio) than conventional columns. Upscaling devices with low aspect ratios is challenging due to the trade-off between easy-to-handle flow distribution and the pressure drop over the chromatographic membrane bed. This study aims to investigate the impact of membrane parameters (such as porosity and permeability) and device parameters (such as bed height, incident flow area, and dead volume) on the flow distribution by quantifying simulative and experimental residence time distributions (RTDs). In order to understand and develop a methodology to quantify the impact of the device geometry, the hydrodynamics of axial and radial devices are investigated using CFD simulations. The results show that the device configuration strongly influences the flow distribution. In contrast, the impact of the membrane characteristics on the flow distribution in the investigated small-scale devices with a cross-sectional area of up to 70mm2 is minor. However, membrane characteristics have a significant effect on the pressure drop over the stack. Experimental RTD data allow for evaluating only the impact of the whole device on signal responses. In this study, a purely model-based method was set up according to CFD simulations with the aim of separating the impact of membrane and membrane housing on the flow distribution. It has been shown that the investigated radial-flow devices have favorable hydrodynamic properties due to an optimized housing design and beneficial similar flow path lengths. Furthermore, an equivalent circuit of a CSTR and a DPFR was developed to predict the housing’s RTDs and, in the future, a model-based scale-up of devices.
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spelling doaj.art-6dc8d1095fed4d8caccd1ca2a388096c2022-12-22T03:51:57ZengElsevierJournal of Chromatography Open2772-39172022-11-012100029Why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbersFranziska Hagemann0Denis Wypysek1Kristina Baitalow2Patrick Adametz3Volkmar Thom4Matthias Wessling5RWTH Aachen University, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, Aachen 52074, Germany; DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstrasse 50, Aachen 52074, GermanyRWTH Aachen University, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, Aachen 52074, Germany; DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstrasse 50, Aachen 52074, GermanyRWTH Aachen University, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, Aachen 52074, GermanySartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, GermanySartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, GermanyRWTH Aachen University, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, Aachen 52074, Germany; DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstrasse 50, Aachen 52074, Germany; Corresponding author.In preparative chromatography, a uniform flow distribution through the chromatography device is essential to get an effective ligand utilization and a breakthrough curve that is as steep as possible. Membrane adsorbers usually have a smaller aspect ratio (bed height to diameter ratio) than conventional columns. Upscaling devices with low aspect ratios is challenging due to the trade-off between easy-to-handle flow distribution and the pressure drop over the chromatographic membrane bed. This study aims to investigate the impact of membrane parameters (such as porosity and permeability) and device parameters (such as bed height, incident flow area, and dead volume) on the flow distribution by quantifying simulative and experimental residence time distributions (RTDs). In order to understand and develop a methodology to quantify the impact of the device geometry, the hydrodynamics of axial and radial devices are investigated using CFD simulations. The results show that the device configuration strongly influences the flow distribution. In contrast, the impact of the membrane characteristics on the flow distribution in the investigated small-scale devices with a cross-sectional area of up to 70mm2 is minor. However, membrane characteristics have a significant effect on the pressure drop over the stack. Experimental RTD data allow for evaluating only the impact of the whole device on signal responses. In this study, a purely model-based method was set up according to CFD simulations with the aim of separating the impact of membrane and membrane housing on the flow distribution. It has been shown that the investigated radial-flow devices have favorable hydrodynamic properties due to an optimized housing design and beneficial similar flow path lengths. Furthermore, an equivalent circuit of a CSTR and a DPFR was developed to predict the housing’s RTDs and, in the future, a model-based scale-up of devices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772391721000293Flow distributionMembrane adsorberHydrodynamicsResidence time distributionDeconvolutionEquivalent circuit
spellingShingle Franziska Hagemann
Denis Wypysek
Kristina Baitalow
Patrick Adametz
Volkmar Thom
Matthias Wessling
Why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbers
Journal of Chromatography Open
Flow distribution
Membrane adsorber
Hydrodynamics
Residence time distribution
Deconvolution
Equivalent circuit
title Why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbers
title_full Why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbers
title_fullStr Why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbers
title_full_unstemmed Why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbers
title_short Why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbers
title_sort why device design is crucial for membrane adsorbers
topic Flow distribution
Membrane adsorber
Hydrodynamics
Residence time distribution
Deconvolution
Equivalent circuit
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772391721000293
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