Maintenance of column performance at scale.

Pack-in-place column packing methods were developed for Q Sepharose Big Beads at 40 cm I.D. and scaled up to 200 cm I.D. in Chromaflow columns. The efficiency and asymmetry of the packed bed were evaluated as a function of test velocity and sample volume. The performance of the packed beds at both scales approached the theoretical limits of column performance (Hred =2 and Af=1) expected in small analytical columns. The packing strategy was effective for scale up and the stability of the packed beds, the effectiveness of the column design with respect to the mobile phase distribution system and the stability of the media to the pack-in-place technology, are presented.