ABSTRACT
Chromatographic systems are traditionally used for separating one or more components from mixtures. This chapter describes combined reaction and separation that takes place simultaneously inside the same chromatographic column. The application of chromatographic reactors in the biochemical field was initiated in the early 1980s by Barker and co-workers. The inherent advantages of continuous operation, such as constant product quality, limited or no recycling, better utilization of the available mass transfer area, and their success in separation applications, make them the natural next step in the development of the chromatographic reaction-separation principle. In 1980, B. K. Cho et al. reported the findings of their studies in the use of a continuous annular chromatographic reactor packed with activated charcoal and equipped with a rotating feed injection. The combined chromatographic bioreaction-separation, in addition to reducing capital and operating costs, was found to result in better product yields, lower enzyme consumption, and significantly reduced problems associated with product inhibition.
