title: Maximizing the peak capacity using coupled columns packed with 2.6 μm core-shell particles operated at 1200 bar.
abstract: We report on the peak capacity that can be produced by operating a state-of-the-art core-shell particle type (d(p)=2.6 μm) at its kinetic optimum at ultra-high pressures of 600 and 1200 bar. The column-length optimization needed to arrive at this kinetic optimum was realized using column coupling. Whereas the traditional operating mode (using a single 15 cm column operated at its optimum flow rate of 0.4 mL/min) offered a peak capacity of 162 in 10.8 min, a fully optimized train of 60 cm (4×15 cm) columns offered a peak capacity of 325 in 61 min when operated at 1200 bar. Even though the particles have a reputed low flow resistance and a relatively large size (>2 μm), it was found that the increase in performance that can be generated when switching from a fully optimized 600 bar operation to a fully optimized 1200 bar operation is significant (roughly 50% reduction of the analysis time for the same peak capacity and approximately a 20% increase in peak capacity if compared for the same analysis time). This has been quantified in a generic way using the kinetic plot method and is illustrated by showing the chromatograms corresponding to some of the data points of the kinetic plot curve.
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaast
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Vos
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broeckhoven
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.forename: Sebastiaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eeltink
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desmet
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics