Stackable planar adsorptive devices
Adsorptive bed devices include a monolithic scaffold having a stress absorbing rigid structure and open cells filled with adsorptive beads. The monolithic scaffold restricts movement of the plurality of adsorptive beads, absorbs stress induced by a hydraulic pressure gradient along a direction of liquid flow. In one embodiment the adsorptive bed is packed into a chromatography column, and in another embodiment the adsorptive bed is sealed in a monolithic block. In another embodiment, the adsorptive bed device includes an adsorptive block, first and second planar distributors and peripheral seal.
1. An adsorptive bed to receive a liquid flow comprising:
a monolithic scaffold including a structural shell;
an interconnected lattice disposed within the structural shell;
wherein the interconnected lattice comprises an array of channels comprising:
a plurality of vertical plates; and
a plurality of horizontal plates intersecting the plurality of vertical plates;
a plurality of adsorptive chromatographic beads disposed in the array of channels forming a packed bed of the plurality of adsorptive chromatographic beads;
wherein the monolithic scaffold restricts movement of the plurality of adsorptive chromatographic beads, absorbs tensile stress induced by a hydraulic pressure within the adsorptive bed; and
wherein each of the plurality of adsorptive chromatographic beads has a diameter of less than 100 microns.
2. The adsorptive bed of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vertical plates and the plurality of horizontal plates are fused together to form the interconnected lattice as the monolithic scaffold by virtue of a molding process.
3. The adsorptive bed of claim 2 , wherein a cross-section of each of the channels of the array of channels is one of:
a regular cross-section;
an irregular cross-section;
a circular cross-section;
a triangular cross-section;
a rectangular cross-section; and
an hexagonal cross-section.
4. The adsorptive bed of claim 2 , wherein the monolithic scaffold comprises one of:
plastic;
metal; and
ceramic.
5. The adsorptive bed of claim 2 , wherein the monolithic scaffold further comprises:
a top planar surface;
a bottom planar surface;
a peripheral seal bonded to the array of channels;
wherein the liquid flow is along a plane of the plurality of horizontal plates.
6. The adsorptive bed of claim 2 , wherein the monolithic scaffold is inserted into a chromatography column; and
wherein the liquid flow is perpendicular to the bottom of the chromatography column.
7. The adsorptive bed of claim 1 , further comprising:
an exterior shell;
packing retainers on a feed end and an eluent end of the monolithic scaffold;
passageways for distribution of feed and collection of eluent; and
peripheral seals disposed on a feed end and an eluent end of the monolithic scaffold.
8. The adsorptive bed of claim 1 , wherein the monolithic scaffold has a tensile strength greater than 100 psi.
9. The adsorptive bed of claim 8 , wherein the adsorptive bed supports a liquid flow velocity greater than 150 cm/hour.
10. The adsorptive bed of claim 1 wherein the monolithic scaffold further comprises:
a peripheral seal;
passageways for distribution of feed stream;
passageways for collection of eluent stream;
passageways for insertion of packing retainers; and
at least one packing retainer inserted into one of the packing retainer passageways.
11. A chromatographic method to process a liquid flow comprising:
providing an adsorptive bed comprising:
a monolithic scaffold including a structural shell;
an interconnected lattice disposed within the structural shell;
wherein the interconnected lattice comprises an array of channels comprising:
a plurality of vertical plates; and
a plurality of horizontal plates intersecting the plurality of vertical plates;
a plurality of adsorptive beads filling the array of channels forming a packed bed of the plurality of adsorptive beads;
restricting the movement of the plurality of adsorptive beads, absorbing tensile stress induced by a hydraulic pressure within the adsorptive bed;
processing the liquid flow; and
operating at a pressure of greater than 100 psi.
12. The chromatographic method of claim 11 wherein the liquid flowing through the packed bed is flowing at a velocity greater than 150 cm/hr.
13. The chromatographic method of claim 11 , further comprising:
a rapid cycling purification process comprising:
adsorbing target solute in the adsorptive bed;
washing non-adsorbed solutes;
releasing purified target solute; and
conditioning the adsorptive bed for a following purification cycle; and
wherein the rapid cycling purification process has one of:
a rapid purification process cycle time less than about ten minutes.
14. A chromatography system for processing a liquid flow comprising:
an adsorptive bed comprising:
a monolithic scaffold including a structural shell;
an interconnected lattice disposed within the structural shell;
wherein the interconnected lattice comprises an array of channels comprising:
a plurality of vertical plates; and
a plurality of horizontal plates intersecting the plurality of vertical plates;
a plurality of adsorptive chromatographic beads disposed in the array of channels forming a packed bed of the plurality of adsorptive beads;
at least one pump and at least one liquid feed stream control valve controlling a liquid feed stream; and
a rapid cycling controller coupled to the at least one pump and at least one liquid feed stream control valve; and
wherein each of the plurality of adsorptive chromatographic beads has a diameter of less than 100 microns.
15. The chromatography system of claim 14 further comprising:
a first plurality of distribution passageways disposed within the monolithic scaffold;
a second plurality of distribution passageways disposed within the monolithic scaffold; and
wherein the system is operated using the first and second plurality of distribution passageways.