A method to evaluate the feasibility of TMB chromatography for reduced efficiency and purity requirements based on discrete optimization

This paper introduces an exact mathematical approach based on combinatorial optimization to analyze continuous linear countercurrent chromatographic processes. The analysis is based on a given set of input parameters including, in particular, purity requirements and number of plates per zone. As an outcome of the analysis either a proof of infeasibility is derived for a given set of parameters, or a feasible solution is found that is in correspondence with the input requirements. Details regarding the mathematical combinatorial subproblems are presented.