By affinity separation one component is selectively separated from a soup of components. It is very attractive for separations in pharmaceuticals, food, and drinking water industry branches. Latest results from industry partners and academia were presented at the symposium Affinity Separations, organized by the Users group Separation Technology in the Netherlands (NL GUTS). It was a one-day live symposium at Bodec, Helmond, 20th of October 2021.
Here are my highlights:
Moving bed chromatography separation by Paul Deckers of Bodec. This technology has the advantages of a very selective separation and a high capacity at low processing cost. A pilot plant is available at Bodec for tests.
Nano particles with special ligands inside porous structure for selective separation of monoclonal antibodies, presented by Michel Epping of Byondis and Wageningen University Research. In the discussion it appeared that the technique also can be used for membranes, by having the nanopores with a ligand as a membrane.
Fixed adsorbent (Metal Organic Frameworks) in a packed bed structure can be used for carbon dioxide capture. Raf Roelant of PDC showed by modelling that an optimum configuration of 11 beds in swing operation can be designed.