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Abstract

Radial-flow chromatography is an efficient method for the fast separation and analysis of complex samples, which might possess certain advantages compared to conventional axial liquid chromatography, especially in the preparative separation of biological samples and during the initial separation of complex samples. Since in radial chromatography the separation is carried out using columns with a radial flow, the transport of solutes differs much from that in conventionally used axial columns. The distribution of solutes in a radial column dring the separation process performed under linear conditions is studied based on solving the balance equations. Possible influences of various parameters such as column structure and flow rate on the separation are illustrated. For linear isotherms, theoretical expressions for the first, second and third moments of elution profiles were obtained. The characteristics of the elution process were also studied under nonlinear conditions using Langmuir isotherms. The influence of different parameters (such as column structure, flow rate and diffusion coefficient) on the shape of the elution profiles was investigated numerically. The results achieved reveal a potential of radial chromatography in the preparative separation of larger molecules.