Method for Packing Chromatography Columns

1 . A method for packing a plurality of uniform chromatography columns, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of chromatography columns;

b) providing a plurality of chromatography resin aliquots;

c) packing said chromatography resin aliquots in said chromatography columns to provide a plurality of packed chromatography columns; and

d) subjecting said packed chromatography columns to repeated mechanical impacts.

2 . A method for packing a plurality of uniform chromatography columns, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of chromatography columns;

b) providing a plurality of chromatography resin aliquots;

c) packing said chromatography resin aliquots in said chromatography columns to provide a plurality of packed chromatography columns; and

d) subjecting said packed chromatography columns to repeated mechanical impacts to provide a plurality of uniform chromatography columns.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromatography resin aliquots are dry and wherein in step c) said chromatography resin aliquots are filled in said chromatography columns and reswollen by adding a liquid to the chromatography columns.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step b) comprises providing a plurality of dry chromatography resin aliquots and reswelling them with a liquid to provide a plurality of reswollen chromatography resin aliquots, and wherein step c) comprises packing said reswollen chromatography resin aliquots in said chromatography columns.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step a) said chromatography resin aliquots are prepared by weighing dry chromatography resin.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step a) said chromatography resin aliquots are prepared by weighing dry chromatography resin from a single batch or pool of dry chromatography resin.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step a), said chromatography columns are substantially identical.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromatography columns are fixed volume chromatography columns.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromatography columns have bed volumes within the range of 100 mL-25 L.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromatography columns have bed heights within the range of 1-10 cm.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromatography columns have bed heights within the range of 1-5 cm.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromatography columns have bed width to bed height ratios within the range of 2-10.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromatography columns have bed width to bed height ratios within the range of 2-5.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step b), said chromatography resin aliquots are substantially identical.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step d), said packed chromatography columns are subjected to at least 5 mechanical impacts.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step d), said packed chromatography columns are subjected to at least 30 mechanical impacts.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said mechanical impacts are evenly distributed along the column perimeters.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step d), the kinetic energy of said impacts is 0.1-100 J per impact.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step d), the total kinetic energy of said impacts is 10-5000 J.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step d), said impacts are caused by relative motion between the column and an object.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in step d), said impacts are caused by vibrating the columns.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein vibrating the columns comprises subjecting them to ultrasound treatment.

23 . The method of claim 1 , comprising, after step d), a step of subjecting the columns to ultrasound treatment.

24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the difference in hydraulic permeability within said plurality of uniform chromatography columns is less than 50%.

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the difference in retention volume for a non-binding species within said plurality of uniform chromatography columns is less than 0.1 column volumes.

26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the difference in plate height for a non-binding species within said plurality of uniform chromatography columns is less than 200 micrometers.

27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said uniform chromatography columns are single use chromatography columns.

28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of packed chromatography columns is subjected to radiation sterilization after step c), such as before step d).

29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said uniform chromatography columns are chromatography column cartridges, adapted to be stacked with like chromatography column cartridges and to be fluidically connected in parallel and/or serially.

30 . A method for manufacturing a chromatography apparatus, comprising the steps of:

a) performing the method of claim; and

b) fluidically connecting said plurality of chromatography columns in parallel.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein step b) comprises fluidically connecting said plurality of chromatography columns to a single sample inlet.

32 . A method for manufacturing a chromatography apparatus, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of chromatography columns;

b) providing a plurality of chromatography resin aliquots;

c) packing said chromatography resin aliquots in said chromatography columns to provide a plurality of packed chromatography columns;

d) stacking and fluidically connecting the chromatography columns in parallel to form a chromatography apparatus and

e) subjecting said chromatography apparatus to repeated mechanical impacts.

33 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising subjecting said chromatography apparatus to radiation sterilization after step d), such as before step e).

34 . The method of claim 32 , wherein said chromatography columns are fixed volume chromatography columns.