Chromatography system and method
A chromatography system comprising at least two chromatography columns, where a feed recirculation of outflow from a primary load column to the inlet of a secondary load column is combined such that the feed recirculation outflow from all columns that will be used as primary load columns in the system will pass through one and the same feed recirculation flow path.
1. A chromatography system comprising at least two chromatography columns, wherein a feed recirculation of outflow from a primary load column to an inlet of a secondary load column is combined in a single, same feed recirculation flow path wherein the feed recirculation outflow from all columns that will be used as primary load columns in the system will pass from outlets of all columns together through the single, same feed recirculation flow path to inlets of all columns.
2. A chromatography system according to claim 1 , wherein a feed recirculation detector is provided in the feed recirculation flow path.
3. A chromatography system according to claim 1 , comprising a feed recirculation flow uniter connected to outlet valves provided to the outlets from each of the columns that will be used as primary load column, whereby an outlet flow from the columns is controlled such that it is provided to the feed recirculation flow uniter when the column is used as primary load column, said system further comprising a feed recirculation flow splitter connected to the feed recirculation flow uniter through the feed recirculation flow path and further connected to inlet valves provided to inlets to each of the columns that will be used as primary load column, whereby the system is arranged to control the flow from the feed recirculation flow splitter to enter the column that presently serves as secondary load column.
4. A chromatography system according to claim 1 , comprising a feed recirculation means connected to outlet valves provided to outlets from each of the columns that will be used as primary load column, whereby the outlet flow from the columns is controlled such that it is provided to the feed recirculation means when the column is used as primary load column, said feed recirculation means further being connected to inlet valves provided to inlets to each of the columns that will be used as primary load column, whereby the system is arranged to control the flow from the feed recirculation means to enter the column that presently serves as secondary load column, said feed recirculation means further comprising a feed recirculation flow path through which all feed recirculation flow will pass.
5. A chromatography system according to claim 1 , wherein said system comprises
a column inlet rotary valve connected to the inlets of all columns that will be used as primary load columns in the system and to at least three inflows, and
a column outlet rotary valve connected to the outlets of all columns that will be used as primary load columns in the system and to at least three outflows, wherein the feed recirculation flow path connects the inlet rotary valve with the outlet rotary valve.
6. A chromatography system according to claim 1 , wherein said system comprises
a column connection rotary valve connected to the inlets of all columns that will be used as primary load columns in the system and to at least three inflows and connected to the outlets of all columns that will be used as primary load columns in the system and to at least three outflows, wherein said feed recirculation flow path connects each column outlet to each column inlet through the column connection rotary valve.
7. A method for recirculating outlet flow from a primary load column to the inlet of a secondary load column in a chromatography system comprising at least two chromatography columns, said method comprising:
combining in a single, same feed recirculation flow path, the feed recirculation for all columns that will be used as primary load columns in the system such that the feed recirculation flow will pass from outlets of all columns together through the single, same feed recirculation flow path to inlets of all columns.
8. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising detecting an effluent signal being representative of the composition of the feed recirculation in the feed recirculation flow path.
9. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising directing outflow from each of the columns when they are serving as primary load column to a feed recirculation flow uniter connected to outlet valves provided to outlets from each of the columns that will be used as primary load column, transferring said outflow from the feed recirculation flow uniter through the feed recirculation flow path to a feed recirculation flow splitter connected to inlet valves provided to inlets to each of the columns that will be used as primary load column, and controlling the flow from the feed recirculation flow splitter to enter the column that presently serves as secondary load column.