Modeling Chromatographic Separation

Abstract

In this article, the major chromatography models are reviewed. The successful design and the operation of chromatographic separations require the optimization of a large number of parameters which affect the separation usually in a nonlinear and interacting fashion. The modeling studies of chromatography allow the investigation and screening of different design and operating alternatives with minimal experimental effort, as well as scaling up a chromatographic separation. Additionally, modeling chromatographic separations are essential for the optimization and control of batch as well as continuous chromatographic separation processes. Chromatography is typically concerned with unsteady state mass transfer in the stationary phase and in the accompanying mobile phase. The nature of adsorption isotherms along with the interaction between fluid mechanics and mass transfer tend to dominate the feasibility of the chromatographic separation processes. There are several models to be used for chromatographic separations, whether it is at the analytical scale or at the preparative/production scale, including the ideal model, the equilibrium dispersive model, the transport dispersive model and the general rate model. A systematic approach is presented which illustrates the limitations and advantages of each model. Moreover, for the numerical solution of detailed models of single and multi-component nonlinear chromatography, a simple but effective procedure is introduced.