Chromatography columns, systems and methods

1. An axial flow chromatography column comprising:

a housing comprising a side wall;

opposed, axially spaced first and second end units separated by said side wall;

the first end unit comprising a first port which is in fluid communication with an enclosed bed space for adding a liquid to or removing a liquid from the bed space;

the second end unit comprising a second port which is in fluid communication with the enclosed bed space for adding a liquid to or removing a liquid from the bed space; and

wherein said first port and said second port are disposed at or above the level of the bed space on said chromatography column.

2. The chromatography column according to claim 1 , wherein the second port is in fluid communication with the bed space by means of a hollow member connected to a passageway in the second unit.

3. The chromatography column according to claim 2 , wherein said hollow member is an integral part of the column.

4. The chromatography column according to claim 2 , wherein said passageway extends from the bed space through a lateral wall of the second end unit.

5. The chromatography column according to claim 1 , wherein the first end unit additionally comprises a valve which is in fluid communication with the enclosed bed space, the valve being operably openable and closable to allow filing of the bed space with the particulate medium through a passageway.

6. The chromatography column according to claim 5 , wherein a longitudinal member of said valve comprises a nozzle.

7. The chromatography column according to claim 6 , wherein said nozzle is fixed within the bed space or retractable to a position outwith the bed space.

8. The chromatography column according to claim 5 , wherein said valve does not allow emptying of the bed space of particulate medium.

9. The chromatography column according to claim 1 , wherein said column is pre-packed with particulate medium.

10. The chromatography column according to claim 9 , wherein said column is a disposable column.

11. The chromatography column according to claim 1 , further comprising a first filter which is adjacent to said first end unit and a second filter which is adjacent to said second end unit wherein said filters together with the side wall define an enclosed bed space for containing a bed of particulate medium therein.

12. The chromatography column according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one distribution channel therein.

13. The chromatography column according to claim 12 , wherein said at least one distribution channel comprises a transverse distribution channel.

14. The chromatography column according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the housing, the first end unit, the second end unit, the first port and/or the second port comprise stainless steel or a high-strength/reinforced polymeric material.

15. The chromatography column according to claim 14 , wherein the polymeric material comprises polypropylene.

16. A method for separating one or more analytes in a liquid from each other, comprising applying said liquid containing said one or more analytes to an axial chromatography column according to claim 1 , said column containing a bed of particulate medium therein, eluting said one or more analytes with a mobile phase, and collecting fractions of said mobile phase eluting from the column.

17. A system for separating one or more analytes in a liquid from each other, said system comprising:

an inlet or inlet manifold in fluid communication with said liquid;

a pump;

a chromatography column according to claim 1 ; and

an outlet or outlet manifold.

18. A system according to claim 17 , additionally comprising a valve which is operably openable and closable to allow the addition of liquid to, or the removal of liquid from, the column bed space.