PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY
SYSTEMS
Ion Exchange System
Sanitech Engineers is one of the most trusted manufacturer of ion exchange columns and systems that addresses numerous separation and purification challenges within food, fermentation, biotechnology, and chemical industries.
We are recognized experts in designing ion exchange and adsorption systems, developing processes, and performing resin screening to meet specific objectives. All our systems meet global regulatory compliance standards.
Our solutions are engineered for consistent performance, long-term reliability, and process efficiency. We also provide full customization and technical support to meet your unique process needs.
Demineralisation and softening
Salt conversion
De-colorization
De-acidification
Hydrolysis and enzymatic conversion
The ion chromatography separation process is based on ionic or electrostatic interactions between ionic and polar analytes, eluent ions, and ionic functional groups fixed to the chromatographic support. Ion chromatography separation involves two mechanisms: ion exchange through competitive ionic binding (attraction) and ion exclusion resulting from repulsion between similarly charged analyte ions and fixed support ions.
Ion exchange remains the most common ion chromatography type. This represents one of the most significant adsorption methods for separating charged molecules of varying molecular sizes and types, including peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, and related biopolymers. Separation occurs through ionic bonds between charged biomolecule groups and oppositely charged ion exchange gel or support. Since biomolecules have different charge characteristics, they interact with charged chromatographic media to varying degrees.
Separation is based on analyte binding to positively or negatively charged groups fixed on a stationary phase, which equilibrate with free counter ions in the mobile phase based on net surface charge variations.
Ion exchange chromatography, which is also known as adsorption chromatography, is a useful and popular method due to its:
- High capacity
- High resolving power
- Mild separation conditions
- Versatility and widespread applicability,
- Tendency to concentrate the sample
- Relatively low cost
Understanding the Core Components in Ion-Exchange Chromatography
High pressure pump
with pressure and flow indicator, to deliver the eluent
Injector
for introducing the sample into the eluent stream and into the column
Column
to separate the sample mixture into the individual components
Detector
to measure the analyte peaks as eluent from the column
Data system
for collecting and organizing the chromatograms and data
In ion-exchange chromatography, adsorption and desorption processes are determined by the properties of the three interacting entities:
- The stationary phase,
- The constituents of the mobile phase
- The solute
The expanding pharmaceutical sector and demand for highly specific, efficient separation techniques from specialty chemical and pharmaceutical industries have increased interest in liquid chromatographic technologies. Various liquid chromatography techniques are used to isolate bioactive compounds from diverse sources. One of the most powerful and traditional liquid chromatography type which is still widely used alone or combined with other chromatographic techniques for analysing and separating ionizable molecules or those with different charges, including proteins, enzymes, peptides, amino acids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, and lectins is none other than Ion exchange chromatography
This chromatography using ion exchange property also separates and purifies organic compounds from natural sources, such as deprotonated acids like fatty acids or amino acid derivatives, or protonated bases like alkaloids. Ion exchange chromatography offers numerous advantages: extensive application to large numbers of molecules with high capacity, cost-effectiveness, easy scalability to factory scales, high target molecule purification degrees, and solvent-free natural product extraction capability.
Consequently, ion exchange chromatography, employed for over 50 years to separate ionic molecules, remains a practical and popular technique for natural product isolation in modern drug discovery, continuing to grow as new technologies develop.
Overview of Ion Exchange Chromatography
Ion Exchange Chromatography (IEX) is a preparative separation technique used to purify biomolecules such as proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids based on their net charge. It is widely applied in biopharma and biotech processes where precise charge-based separations are essential for product quality and consistency.
Working Principle of Ion Exchange Chromatography System
Ion Exchange systems work by exploiting electrostatic interactions between charged molecules and an oppositely charged resin. Here’s how it works step by step:
- Feed Solution Entry – The sample containing a mixture of biomolecules is loaded onto a column packed with ion-exchange resin.
- Binding to Resin – Molecules carrying an opposite charge to the resin surface bind strongly, while neutral or like-charged molecules pass through.
- Washing Step – Impurities and weakly bound molecules are washed away using a buffer.
- Elution Process – Bound molecules are released by gradually changing the buffer conditions, such as increasing salt concentration or altering pH.
- Retentate & Eluate – The eluate contains purified biomolecules separated based on charge differences.
This process offers high selectivity, scalability, and reproducibility, making it a core technique in process chromatography.
Classifications of Ion Exchange Chromatography
Ion Exchange can be classified into different types depending on charge, resin type, and operation:
- Based on Charge Type
- Cation Exchange Chromatography – Targets positively charged molecules using negatively charged resins.
- Anion Exchange Chromatography – Targets negatively charged molecules using positively charged resins.
- Based on Resin Format
- Bead Resins – Spherical beads with high surface area for binding.
- Membrane Adsorbers – Thin membranes offering faster processing and reduced diffusion limitations.
- Based on Operating Pressure
- Low-Pressure IEX – Gentle binding/elution, suited for sensitive molecules.
- Medium-Pressure IEX – Provides faster flow and higher binding capacity.