FlashPack enables packing of 50cm columns with 2mircon particles in less than an one hour

Usually column packing using sub micron particle requires packing pressures of sometimes more than 1000bars. Such workflows require special high pressure equipment and take more or less time since packing time for a given column length depends on the concentration of the particle suspension.

FlashPack provides a new column packing methodology for highly concentrated sub-2µm sorbent suspension (up to 1000mg/mL) at relatively low pressure of 100bar by overcoming particle aggregation. Thus, column packing procedures utilizing the FlashPack setup are a 100-times faster for a given column length than conventional column packing approaches.

This is achieved by  the unique setup consisting of a "pressure bomb"  which provides a pressure gradient and therefore creates a continuous stream of particles from the high pressure region (suspension) into the empty capillary placed within the low pressure region. Secondly, the capillary is mechanically strapped close to the bottom of the beaker to stay in position even at higher pressures and flow rates. Thirdly, application of an magnetic stirrer which provides a turbulent flow to homogenize the suspension and more importantly which continuously taps the proximal end of the capillary column to avoid particle aggregation at the entrance of the capillary while loading.

Overcoming the issues of particle aggregation enables packing of a 50cm column with 2µm particles in less than an hour.

Source: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/09/26/426676.full.pdf+html