INDUSTRIAL-SCALE CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMN PACKING: A STUDY IN RESIN BED EFFICIENCY AND COST REDUCTION

Abstract

The primary focus of this study will be to compare different column packing methods given specific chromatography resins to determine the proper methods to reduce cost and produce an efficient chromatography bed. In the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry drug processes begin at lab-scale volumes. When the process is scaled to produce larger quantities of product, larger chromatography columns are necessary. Packing larger columns with chromatography resin is a costly proposition for the company both in time and money. Mistakes during column packing can lead to further costs such as lost product during operation, damaged resin, and lost time. As technology advances, new resins are developed that require specific packing conditions. Most companies consider the techniques used to pack these resins to be proprietary information. This study will examine different column packing methods using different chromatography resins, to determine the most cost and time efficient manner in which to pack a column to produce an efficient resin bed for large-scale manufacturing purposes. The three column packing methods being examined are constant flow packing, axial compression, and pack-in-place. Resin bed efficiency will be based on a height equivalent theoretical plate (HETP) test.