Porous Cellulose Medium for Large Molecule Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing porous cellulose media struggle to increase pore volume for large pore diameters, making it difficult to efficiently separate large target molecules in chromatography, such as proteins with a weight average molecular weight from approximately 105.0 to 105.5.
Innovation Solution
A novel method involving the atomization of a cellulose solution by spraying it into a controlled space from a spray nozzle, followed by coagulation in a specific coagulation phase, where the gas supplied is only from the spray nozzle, allowing for the production of porous cellulose media with optimized pore diameters and volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods for producing porous cellulose medium are used, then the production process is simple, but the pore volume for large pore diameters cannot be increased, making it difficult to efficiently separate large target molecules
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the production parameters by controlling the gas composition in the spray atomization process. Specifically, it controls the ratio of inert gas to coagulation solvent vapor to be 1:1 to 10:1, which enables the formation of porous cellulose beads with large pore volumes while maintaining a relatively simple production process. This parameter control resolves the contradiction by allowing pore volume increase without significantly complicating the manufacturing method.
2Productivity
If the pore diameter of porous cellulose medium is increased to separate large molecules, then the separation efficiency for large target molecules improves, but the pore volume cannot be sufficiently increased with conventional methods
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses spray atomization technology where cellulose solution is sprayed into a controlled gas environment. By controlling the gas flow rates (inert gas at 10-100 mL/min and coagulation solvent vapor at 1-10 mL/min) and their ratio, the process creates optimal conditions for forming porous beads with both large pore diameters and large pore volumes, thereby achieving high separation efficiency for large molecules.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an inert gas environment during the spray atomization and coagulation process. The inert gas prevents unwanted chemical reactions and controls the coagulation conditions, enabling the formation of porous cellulose beads with optimized pore structures. This inert atmosphere control allows simultaneous achievement of large pore diameter and large pore volume, resolving the contradiction between separation efficiency and pore volume.
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
This method enables the efficient separation of large target molecules by producing porous cellulose media with specific particle sizes and pore characteristics, specifically satisfying relationships between weight average molecular weight and gel partition coefficient, thereby enhancing chromatographic separation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
atomizing a cellulose solution by spraying into a space from a spray nozzle, so as to form a fine particle
Implementation Method 2
coagulating the fine particle in a coagulation phase
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a novel porous cellulose medium that can efficiently separate a large target molecule in a calibration standard. A porous cellulose medium including a porous cellulose particle having a particle size from 1 to 600 μm, wherein, in sieving the porous cellulose medium for classification and using a fraction corresponding to aperture openings between 53 μm and 106 μm as a support for size exclusion chromatography, a polyethylene oxide standard is run through size exclusion chromatography with pure water as a mobile phase, and a weight average molecular weight Mw and a gel partition coefficient Kav of the polyethylene oxide standard satisfy Relationships (A) and (B) above:in a case where 4.80≤log Mw≤5.50,Kav>−0.445×log Mw+2.55 (A)in a case where 5.75≤log Mw,0≤Kav<0.19 (B).