Stackable planar adsorptive devices
Stackable planar adsorption devices include a plurality of layers of adsorptive media provided in a web format. The layers are stacked in contiguous fashion, sealed and include fluid passageways to provide a range of scalable chromatography devices suitable for large scale manufacturing applications.
1. An adsorptive device comprising:
at least one block comprising planarly cohesive, substantially isotropic adsorptive media, the block having:
a first end;
a second end;
a first substantially planar surface;
a second substantially planar surface;
at least one sidewall substantially perpendicular to the first and second planar surfaces;
a first plurality of distribution passageways disposed within the at least one block, adjacent the first end and substantially perpendicular to the first and second planar surfaces;
a second plurality of distribution passageways disposed within the at least one block, adjacent the second end and substantially perpendicular to the first and second planar surfaces; and
a peripheral seal encapsulating the at least one sidewall.
2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
a pair of end plates substantially parallel with the first and second planar surfaces, a first one of the pair of end plates adjacent to the first surface of the block and a second one of the pair of endplates adjacent to the second surface of the block, the pair of end plates supporting the block and comprising:
a first manifold disposed in one of the pair of endplates, and fluidly coupling a feed inlet to the first plurality of distribution passageways; and
a second manifold disposed in one of the pair of endplates and fluidly coupling an eluent outlet to the second plurality of distribution passageways.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second substantially planar surfaces are substantially parallel.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of distribution passageways are aligned and located with respect to each other to induce a substantially uniform lateral flow of fluid within the block from the first end to the second end.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral seal contains a fluid under operating pressures.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the planarly cohesive, substantially isotropic adsorptive media comprises planar, cohesive web media.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first plurality of distribution passageways and the second plurality of distribution passageways in adjacent webs overlap but do not line up exactly with the corresponding distribution passageways forming a passageway that is interconnected from the upper surface to the lower surface.
8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the planarly cohesive web media is macroporous IPN media.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the planarly cohesive, substantially isotropic adsorptive media comprises a monolithic media.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the planarly cohesive, substantially isotropic adsorptive media comprises a planarly cohesive scaffold having voids packed with bead-based media, wherein the scaffold supports and restricts movement of the bead-based media.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one block has a thickness greater than about 5 millimeters.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one block has a rectangular shape.
13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one block has a thickness greater than about 10 millimeters.