Preparative chromatography is the most powerful, versatile, and flexible technology to resolve particularly challenging industrial separation problems. The Advanced Separation Processes group performs internationally recognized research in the field of preparative chromatography and develops corresponding processes for the separation and purification for various mixtures from chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological productions. Applications of preparative chromatography include, but are not limited to, productions of fine and bulk chemicals, enantiomers and diastereomers, carbohydrates, proteins, polymers, and nanoparticles.
Main focus is on devising efficient solutions for most difficult separation tasks. For this, we carry out systematic experimental development and proof-of-principle of liquid chromatography techniques based on adsorption, ion exchange, size exclusion, chiral recognition, etc. The potential of these retention mechanisms is maximized by applying powerful preparative operating concepts ranging from classical single column elution and gradient chromatography over steady-state recycling (SSR) and closed-loop recycling (CLR), 2D and multidimensional chromatography, to multi-column schemes like simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography.
Along this, also fundamental theoretical work is performed regarding basic design, process analysis, parameter determination, modelling and simulation, as well as optimization-based development of preparative chromatographic processes. Here, we do not only apply existing state-of-the-art mathematical tools like numerical schemes for simulation and optimization as well as the powerful concept of equilibrium theory. Moreover, we develop new frameworks and tools for process analysis and design. An example is the open-source platform CADET-Process.
