Methods and systems for chromatography are disclosed that employ a flexible container configured to fit within a support structure and adapted to receive a filtration or absorptive medium. The flexible container can include at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a separation barrier peripherally sealed within the container to separate the container into a resin containing portion and a drainage portion. The barrier can be configured to exclude the resin material from the drainage portion while allowing fluids to pass therethrough. The disposable chromatography system can further include one or more agitators disposed within the flexible container and adjustably configured to be raised or lowered in the flexible container. When the agitator is in the raised position, the resin packing material can operate in a settled, packed-bed configuration. Alternatively, the agitator in the lowered position permits the chromatography resin packing material to operate in a mixed, slurry configuration.

A liquid chromatography system including a solvent delivery pump for delivering a mobile phase through the liquid chromatography system, an injector for injecting a sample into the mobile phase, a column for effecting a separation of components of the sample, and a dispersive element positioned between the injector and the column, the dispersive element configured to dilute a sample solvent in the mobile phase prior to entering the column is provided. Further dispersive elements, systems, and methods are also provided.

A frit for a sample separation device for separating a fluidic sample includes a holding unit made of ceramic and a filter unit made of ceramic, which is held by the holding unit for filtering a fluid. The holding unit and the filter unit are formed as one piece.

The present invention relates to porous substrate compositions and methods for producing such compositions. In one embodiment, the porous substrate composition of the present invention comprises sintered spherical particles of a substantially uniform size. The porous media compositions of the present invention comprise relatively randomly-ordered particles with a void fraction significantly higher than compositions with a more ordered, close-packed configuration. The present invention further relates to composite porous media compositions comprising two or more relatively discrete layers of sintered particles.

Methods and systems for chromatography are disclosed that employ a flexible container configured to fit within a support structure and adapted to receive a filtration or absorptive medium, such as a chromatography resin. The flexible container can include at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a separation barrier peripherally sealed within the container to separate the container into a resin containing portion and a drainage portion. The barrier can be configured to exclude the resin material from the drainage portion during use while allowing fluids to pass therethrough. The disposable chromatography system can further include one or more agitators disposed within the flexible container and adjustably configured to be raised or lowered in the flexible container. When the agitator is in the raised position, the resin packing material can operate in a settled, packed-bed configuration. Alternatively, the agitator in the lowered position permits the chromatography resin packing material to operate in a mixed, slurry configuration.

A liquid chromatography system, includes a fluidic flow path, a chromatography column located in the fluidic flow path, a filtration device located in the fluidic flow path before the chromatography column, the filtration device including a housing having a fluidic inlet, a fluidic outlet, wherein at least a portion of the fluidic flow path is located between the fluidic inlet and the fluidic outlet and at least one filter disposed in the portion of the fluidic flow path, wherein the at least one filter is made of a micromachined material. Liquid chromatography filtration methods are further disclosed.

Described is a tubing assembly which includes a permanently deformable outer tube, an intermediate tube and an inner tube. A radial seal is provided by a uniform radial crimp having a non-zero longitudinal length at a longitudinal location on the tubing assembly. In some embodiments one or both ends of the assembly have a uniform radial crimp and are polished so that the ends of two or more of the tubes are substantially flush with each other to thereby block the passage of fluids between the ends of the tubes. In other embodiments the uniform radial crimps are at other longitudinal locations where a high pressure seal is desired. The longitudinal length and the depth of each uniform radial crimp can be formed to accommodate the requirements of a particular application so that leakage along the tubing assembly is prevented and void volume is reduced or eliminated.

Chromatography apparatus and methods are described, especially for expanded bed adsorption. A column tube has a process fluid input device at the bottom and a movable piston in the top. The piston is enclosed in the column by a cover plate. The piston body has an inflatable seal, and is connected by a frame to a contact ring which carries another inflatable member to contact the tube wall. Process fluid leaves the operating volume through an opening of the piston and flexible hose, through the enclosed space and out through the cover plate. The space above the piston can be pressurised to control piston movement. The contact ring maintains piston alignment. The inflatable seals are used to fix the piston in position, allow it to slide or allow washing. The piston outlet may include a vortex-inhibitor. Bed and piston levels may be monitored by ultrasound sensors.

Herein is reported the use of a chromatography column support comprising at least one plane of symmetry, one axis of symmetry, at least three legs, at least three straight connectors, whereby the connectors define a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the support, whereby the connectors are connected to each other at the axis of symmetry, whereby each leg is connected to a connector, whereby each leg is perpendicular to the plane defined by the connectors, whereby all legs are on the same side of the plane defined by the connectors for stabilizing the packing of a chromatography column.

Disclosed is a continuous process in which a subset of a number of mutually identical columns, are connected in series. The process liquid, e.g. crude cell culture harvest, is supplied to the most upstream column of the subset. It flows successively through the in series connected columns and leaves the subset through the most downstream and flows into the downstream collection vessel. As soon as the packed bed of the most upstream column is become saturated with product, this column is disconnected from the subset. It is removed from the series connection. A replacement, identical, column is added such that it is connected in series downstream from the most downstream column of the subset. This process is repeated.