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.

The present invention relates to a chromatography column (100; 100′) comprising a tubular side wall (110) having an inner wall (112), an adaptor assembly (120) and a base assembly (125). An enclosed bed space (130) is defined between said adaptor assembly (120), said base assembly (125) and said inner wall (112) of said tubular side wall (110). The adaptor assembly (120) is axially movable inside said tubular side wall (110) in relation to said base assembly (125). The inner wall (112) comprises at least one groove (180; 180′; 180″; 180′″) which is positioned in a lower half of the tubular side wall (110) of the chromatography column (100), via which groove (180; 180′; 180″; 180′″) air and other fluid can pass the adaptor assembly (120) when the adaptor assembly is positioned in a priming position, in which priming position said adaptor assembly intersects with at least a part of the at least one groove (180; 180′; 180″; 180′″).

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.

The invention discloses a method for sanitization of a bioprocess chro matography column, comprising the steps of: a) providing a bioprocess chromatogra phy column with a packed bed of separation resin particles and a movable adapter, b) with the adapter in contact with the packed bed, conveying a sanitization fluid through the packed bed to a column outlet; c) raising the adapter to provide a gap between the packed bed and the adapter, d) lowering the adapter to close the gap; and e) conveying an equilibration liquid through the packed bed to a column outlet.

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.

A chemical processing column that includes a column base and an assembly for maintaining plug flow in the column base. The column base is adapted to contain a bed of media. The assembly includes a sleeve removably coupled to the column base, a plate coupled to the plate, and a piston at least partially disposed within the sleeve. The assembly is dynamically movable relative to the column base to adjust a position of the piston relative to the column base to compensate for a change in volume occupied by the bed of media.

A dynamic axial compression column is disclosed herein. This dynamic axial column utilized external compression to prevent the creation of end plate space in the column. The dynamic axial column can include a tube defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending there between. The dynamic axial column can include a first end plate assembly sealing the first opening and movably extending at least partially into the lumen via the first opening, a second end plate assembly sealing the second opening, a plurality of rods extending along the outside of the tube and connecting the first end plate assembly and the second end plate assembly, and a first plurality of compression devices external to the tube and engaging one of the plurality of rods to bias the first end plate assembly towards the second end plate assembly.

The invention relates to a method for providing an aseptic chromatography column, said method comprising the steps of: pre-sterilize an empty chromatography column; pre-sterilize a chromatography medium; introducing the pre-sterilized chromatography medium into the pre-sterilized chromatography column using aseptic equipment, thereby providing an aseptic chromatography column comprising chromatography medium.

A dynamic axial compression column is disclosed herein. This dynamic axial column utilized external compression to prevent the creation of end plate space in the column. The dynamic axial column can include a tube defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending there between. The dynamic axial column can include a first end plate assembly sealing the first opening and movably extending at least partially into the lumen via the first opening, a second end plate assembly sealing the second opening, a plurality of rods extending along the outside of the tube and connecting the first end plate assembly and the second end plate assembly, and a first plurality of compression devices external to the tube and engaging one of the plurality of rods to bias the first end plate assembly towards the second end plate assembly.