QuikScale Biochromatography Columns

QuikScale Biochromatography Columns

Innovative chromatography columns for scalable, rapid purification
Biopharmaceutical manufacturers increasingly require tools that maximize process yields, boost productivity, and shorten time-to-market. To meet these demands, the scalable family of QuikScale^® columns delivers greater product purity at faster linear velocities than columns currently used in most pharmaceutical processes. As a part of Millipore’s total solution, these innovative columns have been designed to be used easily with any biochromatography system, such as Millipore’s K-Prime^® systems, from small scale pilot processes through complex development and manufacturing operations.


Ultra High Throughput, with All Media Types
Designed to achieve ultra high throughput, robust QuikScale columns are easily, uniformly packed to deliver optimal resolution across a wide range of chromatographic applications, accommodating all media types. The innovative flow distributor assures full, uniform media utilization within the column, assuring reproducible and reliable separations. Using the high flow option with operating pressures up to 7 bar, flow rates up to 1000 cm/h are achievable enabling greater process design flexibility by allowing greater bed heights when utilizing media with high flow and/or backpressure requirements.

QuikScale columns are ideally suited for operation with Millipore’s ProSep^® media.


Fast Packing
Column packing, processing, and unpacking are performed faster and with less effort. There’s no heavy lifting or complex disassembly involved; all components remain attached to the column. An optional removable lower end-cell makes unpacking simple and quick. The simple design eliminates the need for tools and hoists during packing and unpacking.

A yoke and central screw mechanism supports the flow distributor, ensuring this assembly easily moves during packing and unpacking. The flow distributor makes it easy to pack uniform beds. The flow distributor can be swiveled to afford easy access for maintenance without the need to lift the adjuster assembly from the column.



Flow Distributor Seal Technology Ensures Reliable, Fail-Safe Operation
To make packing simple and efficient, the seal (patent pending) is spring force actuated and uses air to deactivate the seal. This design offers smooth vertical movement, and allows the flow distributor assembly to be gently positioned and secured, without disrupting the packed bed. The bed support consists of stainless steel mesh screens that enhance flow distribution efficiency. The screens, unlike plastic supports, allow the passage of air without requiring pre-wetting.



Predictable, Scalable Performance
Column materials and geometries were carefully chosen to ensure consistent chromatographic performance from laboratory scale to production. QuikScale columns are available in 9 diameters, from 70–630 mm. Stainless steel mesh screens, flow cells and column tubes for each column diameter are made of the same materials and are designed to ensure reliable performance across the range of column diameters. Column materials, a unique seal design, and optimized flow distribution, all contribute to creating predictable, scalable processes.

Quick and Reliable Scale-up Figure 1. Separation of ovalbumin from trypsin inhibitor was scouted on a Millipore Vantage® L column (22 mm). The process was then linearly scaled up (418X by volume, 20X by diameter) to a 450 mm QuikScale column with highly comparable results.

Simple and Convenient to Clean and Operate
QuikScale columns are designed for clean-in-place (CIP), low maintenance, and sanitary operation. Smooth surface finish minimizes entrapment of contaminants and prevents corrosion. The elimination of O-rings in product contact areas prevents unswept surfaces, providing better cleanability.

Endotoxin Inactivation Figure 2. Endotoxin inactivation achieved in QuikScale columns. Following application of a typical cleaning SOP, residual endotoxin levels met the USP criteria for WFI. LRV’s (Log Reduction Value) of 6 were measured during these studies.

Choice of Three Column Tube Materials, for Any Application
QuikScale columns meet a broad range of applications.
Tubes are offered in three materials:
- Glass, suitable for a wide range of process application
- Cast acrylic, resistant to breakage with improved ethanol resistance and low protein binding
- Forged stainless steel for improved corrosion resistance and high cleanability
All materials used in the manufacture of the column that come into contact with the process stream either conform to relevant sections of the FDA Code of Federal Regulations Volume 21, parts 170 to 199, or are non-FDA recognized materials that pass USP Class VI tests for toxicity.


Dependable Construction for Long-Lasting, Reliable Performance
Durable frame design and construction, as well as robust tube materials ensure excellent physical stability to deliver years of trouble-free operation.
Specially developed tube manufacturing technology results in excellent tube quality on a consistent basis. This reliability, throughout the QuikScale column product line, is important for generating reproducible performance critical in pharmaceutical manufacturing.


Modular Design
A full line of accessories and installation kits enables quick set-up. Versatile configurations make it easy to adapt columns for use in multiple process applications.


QuikScale Columns — GA and GS Range
The QuikScale column is available in two different configurations. For applications that require frequent packing and unpacking, the column may be ordered with a removable end cell (GA) and optional transport dolly. For applications that require infrequent packing a fixed end cell is available (GS).