In recent papers we have discussed the optimization of design and operating conditions for cuboid packed-bed device for chromatographic separations. The efficiency metrics used in these studies included the number of theoretical plates per unit bed height as well as attributes of flow-through and eluted peaks. These studies were carried out using equivalent columns as benchmarks. The cuboid packed-bed devices consistently outperformed the columns in terms of the above metrics. The current study examines how well, or indeed if at all these superior efficiency metrics translate to superiority in multi-component protein separation. Cation exchange resin was examined in the current study using appropriate multi-component model protein system which was chosen with close isoelectric points to make the separation challenging. Effects of operating and experimental parameters such as flow rate, loop size and linear gradient length on separation performance were systematically investigated. Separation metrics examined included peak width, tailing factor, asymmetry factor and resolution of separated protein peaks. The results obtained showed that the cation exchange cuboid packed-bed device significantly outperformed its equivalent commercial column (e.g., the number of theoretical plates per unit bed height was 8636/m for the cuboid packed-bed device as opposed to 1480/m for the column at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min). The difference in efficiency was particularly high at lower flow rate and when shorter gradients were employed. The results suggest that the cuboid packed-bed devices could potentially have promising application in preparative separations such as biopharmaceutical purifications.

在最近的论文中，我们讨论了用于色谱分离的长方体填充床设备的设计和操作条件的优化。这些研究中使用的效率指标包括每单位床高的理论塔板数以及流通和洗脱峰的属性。这些研究是使用等效柱作为基准进行的。就上述指标而言，长方体填充床设备始终胜过色谱柱。当前的研究检查了这些优越的效率指标到底有多好，或者实际上是否将这些优势转化为多组分蛋白质分离的优势。在本研究中，使用适当的多组分模型蛋白质系统对阳离子交换树脂进行了检查，该系统选择具有接近等电点的位置，以使分离更具挑战性。系统地研究了操作和实验参数（例如流速，环路尺寸和线性梯度长度）对分离性能的影响。检查的分离指标包括峰宽，拖尾因子，不对称因子和分离的蛋白质峰的分离度。获得的结果表明，阳离子交换长方体填充床设备的性能明显优于其同等的工业色谱柱（例如，长方体填充床设备的每单位床高的理论塔板数为8636 / m，而长方体填充床设备的理论床数为1480 / m）。柱，流速为0.5 mL / min）。在较低的流速下和使用较短的梯度时，效率差异特别大。