Crosslinked Porous Cellulose Gel for High-Flow Chromatography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional porous cellulose gels used in chromatography lack sufficient mechanical strength, leading to issues with particle consolidation at high flow rates, which hampers their effectiveness in protein purification processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the addition of a crosslinking agent and alkali in a specific molar ratio to a suspension of cellulose particles, in the presence of an inorganic salt, over an extended period, to create a crosslinked cellulose gel with enhanced mechanical strength and resistance to flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a crosslinking treatment is applied to improve the mechanical strength of cellulose gel, then the strength increases, but the crystalline structure is broken and mechanical strength is significantly deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the crosslinking process by controlling the molar ratio of crosslinking agent to cellulose (0.01-0.1 mol/mol) and reaction temperature (20-50°C), which allows crosslinking to occur without breaking the crystalline structure, thus maintaining mechanical strength while improving gel strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of cellulose gel to allow crosslinking agents to penetrate and react within the gel matrix, creating crosslinks that strengthen the gel without disrupting the overall crystalline framework, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength improvement and structural integrity
2Reliability
If conventional porous cellulose gel is used, then it is useful for chromatography, but it is poor in strength and liable to suffer consolidation of particles in a column at high flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure by introducing crosslinks into the cellulose gel matrix, forming a network that combines the chromatographic properties of cellulose with the mechanical strength of crosslinked structures, thereby achieving both reliability in chromatography and resistance to consolidation at high flow rates
3Strength
If crosslinking is performed to improve mechanical strength, then strength increases, but the gel cannot withstand high flow rates and linear velocities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the crosslinking parameters including molar ratio (0.01-0.1), temperature (20-50°C), and reaction time to achieve a balanced crosslink density that provides mechanical strength while maintaining sufficient porosity and flow channels for high linear velocity operation in chromatography columns
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting porous cellulose gel exhibits improved mechanical strength, allowing for higher linear velocities and increased separation and purification capabilities in chromatography, while maintaining a high exclusion limit molecular weight and reswelling degree, thus enhancing its performance in protein separation and purification.
Implementation Method 1
a method involving the addition of a crosslinking agent and alkali in a specific molar ratio to a suspension of cellulose particles, in the presence of an inorganic salt, over an extended period, to create a crosslinked cellulose gel with enhanced mechanical strength
Implementation Method 2
The resulting porous cellulose gel exhibits improved mechanical strength, allowing for higher linear velocities and increased separation and purification capabilities in chromatography
Implementation Method 3
maintaining a high exclusion limit molecular weight and reswelling degree, thus enhancing its performance in protein separation and purification
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a porous cellulose gel having a high mechanical strength capable of being operated at a higher flow rate, and a method for producing the same. To a suspension liquid of cellulose particles, a crosslinking agent in an amount of from 4 to 12 times the amount of the cellulose monomer in terms of moles and an alkali in an amount of from 0.1 to 1.5 times the amount of the crosslinking agent in terms of moles are added continuously dropwise or added dividedly over a prescribed period of time, whereby flow rate characteristics of a resulting porous cellulose gel can be enhanced. According to the invention, the production efficiency of a polymer substance, such as a nucleic acid and a protein can be enhanced.