High Throughput Screening for the Design and Optimization of Chromatographic Processes: Automated Optimization of Chromatographic Phase Systems

Abstract

Abstract Chromatographic processes can be optimized in various ways. However, the two most prominent approaches are either based on statistical data analysis or on experimentally validated simulation models. Both approaches heavily rely on experimental data, the generation of which usually imposes a significant bottleneck on rational process design. Hence, here a closed‐loop optimization strategy is proposed in that an automated high throughput liquid handling platform is combined with a genetic algorithm. This setup enables process optimization on the mini‐scale and thus saves time as well as material costs. The practicability and robustness of the proposed high throughput method is demonstrated with two exemplary optimization tasks: first, optimization of the buffer composition in the capture step for a binary protein mixture (lysozyme and cytochrome), and second, optimization of multilinear gradient elution for the separation of a ternary mixture (ribonuclease and cytochrome, and lysozyme).