The modeling and analysis of the elution stage of biospecific adsorption in fixed beds

A mathematical model that describes the dynamic behavior of the elution stage of biospecific adsorption (affinity chromatography) in a fixed bed is developed and solved. Both non-selective and selective elution methods are considered. The results show that the duration of the elution stage for a given bed length decreases as the value of the Porath parameter for elution increases. The concentrating effect of the elution stage on the adsorbate of interest increases as the bed length and the value of the Porath parameter for elution increase. It is shown that it is inappropriate to assume that the eluent is infinitely fast distributed within the pores of the particles, and an interesting result involving a local maximum in the effluent concentration of the selective eluent is obtained when the direction of flow in the elution stage is the same as in the adsorption and wash stages and the bed length is large. When the direction of flow during elution is opposite (as compared to being the same) to that employed in the adsorption and wash stages, a shorter total elution time is obtained. The advantage gained with a reversed flow increases as the bed length decreases.