Isolate Purification

Know-How

Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) is one of the various techniques constituent of Countercurrent Chromatography (CCC).

Centrifugal Partition Chromatography is also known as Hydrostatic Countercurrent Chromatography. This refers to the rotary movement of the column which rotates around one single rotation axis, contrary to Hydrodynamic Countercurrent Chromatography systems that have a planetary rotation movement around two rotating axes.

Centrifugal Partition Chromatography is a liquid-liquid chromatography technique. The Kromaton Fast Centrifugal Partitioning Chromatograph thus functions based on the principles of liquid/liquid partitioning chromatography: two immiscible liquid phases are mixed together to form a two-phase system, and are then separated multiple times. The individual solutes are isolated based on the different partitioning coefficients of each compound in this two-phase system.

One of the liquid phases of the two-phase system is used as a stationary liquid phase: it is fed into the column (the rotor) while the latter is spinning at moderate rotational speed. The stationary phase is retained inside the rotor by the centrifugal force generated.

The second phase of the two-phase system is used as the mobile phase containing the solutes to be extracted. It is fed under pressure into the rotor and pumped through the stationary phase.

Both phases are mixed together. It is at that time that the exchange of molecules between the two phases occurs. The separation of the solutes is achieved as a function of the specific partitioning coefficient (Kd) of each solute between the mobile and stationary phases. The mobile phase then decants at each cell outlet thus entering the next cell.

The eluted fractions of the mobile and stationary phases are collected over a period of several minutes to several hours. These fractions, or eluates, will contain the individual purified solutes.

Centrifugal Partition Chromatography is a preparative chromatography technique. It is an alternative to classic purification techniques such as preparative HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) or Flash Chromatography.

Centrifugal Partition Chromatography can be used for:

  • Final purification (purity > 99.5%) of molecules derived from natural extracts, synthetic mixtures or biological matrices
  • Fractionization or pre-fractionization of highly complex crude extracts
  • Liquid-liquid extraction using the newly developed Centrifugal Partition Extractors (CPE) prototypes

    • Because there is no packed solid phase required, Centrifugal Partition Chromatography and the FCPC range offers many benefits:

    COST EFFECTIVE

  • No solid packing material that is costly to buy, replace or reprocess
  • Low solvent consumption (10 to 25% less)
  • One single rotor adapted to all types of separations

    • A SOFT TECHNIQUE

  • No irreversible adsorption or sample loss -> 100% recovery
  • No denaturation of fragile molecules due to interaction with silica -> adapted to fragile molecules

    • EFFICIENT

  • High purification levels up to 99.9%

    • FASTER

  • 3 to 5 times faster than other current solutions

    • FLEXIBLE

  • Adapted to all types of products, natural or synthetic
  • Well-adapted to a very wide range of polarities

    • IDEAL FOR EASY SCALE UP

  • One single separation/purification technique adapted to samples ranging from mg to several kg

    • Products

    FCPC-C - The Ultra Fast Centrifugal Partition Chromatograph

    COMPACT

  • Minimal footprint, ease of transportability

    • FAST

  • Separation times ranging from 5 to 20 minutes, for samples from 10 to 1000 mg

    • RELIABLE

  • GMP compliant design and manufacture; rotor disk in stainless steel and PTFE gaskets, stainless steel for all parts in contact with the product

    • FCPC-A - Maximum Flexibility for Easy Scale Up

    FLEXIBILITY

  • 4 exchangeable rotors of 25, 50, 200 and 1 000 mL to adapt best to quantities of extract to purify
  • Constant number of cells in all rotors to facilitate scale up
  • Manual control or integration in a complete, automatized chromatographic system

    • SECURE

  • Retention tank in case of leak
  • Emergency stop
  • Cooling of bearing chambers for temperature monitoring in the rotor chamber

    • RELIABLE

  • GMP design and manufacture ; PTFE and stainless steel rotor
  • Stainless steel for all parts in contact with the product

    • FCPC-B & FCPC-D - Designed for Industrial Scale Productions

    INDUSTRIAL SCALE

  • Rotors from 5 to 18L, mono- or bi- rotors for injection of large quantities (kgs)
  • Two solutions with horizontal or vertical axis

    • RELIABLE & SECURE

  • GMP design and manufacture, compliant with international security standards
  • Monitoring of temperatures, pression and vibration
  • Methodology: elution, cleaning and repacking of column

    • TAILOR MADE

  • Development of tailor-made columns to maximize productivity