Development of an online monitoring system for the control of continuous chromatographic separation

The current use of ultraviolet (UV) detector and polarimeter in series for the online monitoring of continuous chromatographic process has resulted in various problems in data accuracy, data reproducibility as well as the system stability. In order to overcome these shortcomings, a novel online monitoring system that utilizes an analytical High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) column with UV detector as sensor is proposed in this work. The use of HPLC may result in lower frequency concentration analysis but guarantees the accuracy and reliability of analyzed data. The proposed monitoring system is constructed based on results obtained from simulation of a continuous single-column-with-periodic recycling chromatographic process used for chiral separation of Guaifenesin. The model was mathematically solved by applying finite difference method and was successfully implemented in Matlab. Though built on a single column model, this system, if successfully implemented, is expected to be applicable in all configurations of continuous chromatographic separation process, or the Simulated Moving Bed process in specific.Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering