Trapping multiple dual mode centrifugal partition chromatography for the separation of intermediately-eluting components: Operating parameter selection

•Trapping multiple dual mode CPC is proposed for the separation of intermediately-eluting compounds.•A short-cut method for operating parameter selection is presented.•Experimental proof-of-concept of technique and short-cut method is demonstrated.•Full pure target compound recovery at 35% column volume loading.

The preparative separation of intermediately-eluting components in liquid-liquid chromatography is commonly performed with isocratic batch injections, a technique which often leads to low yield and/or purity as a result of peak overlap. Two-column trapping multiple dual mode centrifugal partition chromatography, an alternative discontinuous method for the separation of a mixture into three product fractions (early-, intermediately-, and late-eluting components) at full recovery, is presented in this work. A mathematical shortcut method based on equilibrium theory assumptions is derived for the determination of the key operating parameters (i.e., step durations and number of steps). The feasibility of the technique and the accompanying short-cut method is demonstrated by proof-of-concept experiments for the separation of two paraben model mixtures.