Leveraging Pilot-Scale Data for Real-Time Analysis of Ion Exchange Chromatography

This study evaluates the potential for computer-aided real-time monitoring and decision-making in pilot-scale ion-exchange chromatography operations using only historical data from the pilot-scale facility. Historical data of flow and conductivity were utilized from students running pilot-scale ion exchanges that resemble industrial ion exchange processes. A Lumped Rate Model (LRM) with a Steric Mass Action (SMA) isotherm was implemented and parameterized to characterize the fixed-bed column. The Discontinuous Galerkin Spectral Element Method (DGSEM), implemented in CADET-Julia, enabled efficient simulation and parameter estimation. Using DGSEM, the LRM with SMA was solved in less time than the sensor measurement frequency. This development allows for the prediction of batch evolution in real time for operators of the ion-exchange column. Despite challenges related to data preprocessing and manual operation inconsistencies, the results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating real-time analysis into pilot-scale operations.