Varicol process : continuous chromatography

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Continuous Chromatography: Varicol® Line

Typical Applications

  • Binary separations:
    • Enantiomers
    • Other isomers
  • Complex mixture fractionations
    From kilograms to hundreds of tons

Five APIs are commercially produced using our Varicol® technology, with two of them among the top 15 brand-name drugs at retail in 2006.

Varicol® - Principles

Varicol® is a multi-column continuous process with a non-synchronous shifting of the inlet and outlet lines. The number of columns varies periodically in each zone.

This ensures a more efficient use of stationary phase and a higher productivity compared to the SMB (Simulated Moving Bed).

Varicol® - Benefits & Features

Lower production costs / Fast and easy scale-up

Industrial design:

  • From lab to large-scale, the same choice of industrial components to maximize reliability
  • Robust design and full automation ensure unattended, 24/7 operation
  • Fully compliant with your regulatory environment (explosion proof, cGMP, GAMP…)

A complete offer:

  • Simulation and modelling tools are provided to speed up your process development
  • Ancillary equipment (solvent storage vessels, evaporation units, utilities…) is offered to maximize the performance and cost effectiveness of your process
  • Extensive training and full customer support allow you to become an experienced user in continuous chromatography

Varicol® Standard Product Line

Varicol® LABORATORY PILOT INDUSTRIAL
Type Micro LAB(30-50) LAB (50-80) 6-110
6-150
6-200 6-300 6-450 6-600 6-800 6-1000
Productivity range g/day kg/week tons/year
10-40 50-
1000
250-2500 10-200 40-400 90-900 8-
80
15-150 25-250 40-
400
Stationary Phase (kg) 0.05 0.4-1 1-3 3-6 10 25 55 100 180 250

Example: Varicol® 6-200 has 6 columns of 200 mm i.d.

Our systems are designed with:

  • Operating temperature from 15 to 50°C
  • Operating pressure from 50 to 100 bars
  • 4 to 8 columns

    

Design: Performance, Reliability and Robustness.

Varicol® units used for pharmaceutical applications include short columns (typically less than 10 cm) packed with relatively small particles (20 µm) and switched at a rather fast pace (less than 1 min.). This requires adequate equipment design and control, as well as proper modelling software and assistance in order to determine optimum operating conditions and provide safe, stable and trouble-free operation.

As for any chromatographic system, the column design is of paramount importance. All Varicol® units with a column diameter of 2" and above are equipped with Prochrom® DAC columns. This is particularly important for large size units where the column diameter can exceed the column length by a factor 10 or more!

Optimisation of Operating Conditions & Assistance

The proper adjustment of the operating conditions of a Varicol® unit requires knowledge of the physico-chemical data of the chromatographic system (such as the adsorption isotherms, the plate height parameters, the permeability of the columns, etc.). This information is used by the LicoHelp™ software to calculate the operating parameters. LicoHelp™ can also be used to compare different processes, simulate the effects of changing parameters, etc.

Software - Varicol®

  • User-friendly graphical interface
  • Novasep simulation software (LicoHelp™) is included to model and optimize the separation.
  • Validated software compliant with 21 CFR part 11 and GAMP 4
  • Option: Management of ancillary equipment (tankfarm, evaporators, utilities…), In-process monitoring, ACS™…

Additionally, Novasep engineers are available to assist customers in other fields, such as the screening of different phase systems (thermodynamic conditions), the selection of optimal operating conditions, the scaling a process, the training of personnel, etc. See Process development.

More information on Software

Advanced Control System (ACS)

  • The only system making continuous chromatography fully PAT (Process Analytical Technologies) compliant
  • Automatic control of lab-scale Varicol® process operating conditions
  • Greatly simplifies the use of lab-scale Varicol® systems and speeds up process development
  • Secures the process and optimizes the productivity at commercial scale

More information about ACS

Customizable Solutions

Our engineers can customize a solution to match your specific purification needs:

  • Special design of our systems/processes to ensure maximum product purity and productivity
  • Solvent storage unit with patented eluent composition adjustment
  • Evaporation unit: automated rotary, wiped film or falling film evaporators, fully integrated with the Varicol® Unit
  • Fully integrated utilities (vacuum, heating or cooling units…)
  • Extended temperature range
  • Full cGMP IQ/OQ qualifications

Your Added Benefits

Novasep provides custom purification from kilograms to multi-tons.

Moreover, we are able to combine chromatographic purification with multi-step synthesis at our FDA-inspected sites.

Novasep’s strategic cooperation with Daicel/Chiral Technologies enables us to screen the unmatched library of Daicel chiral stationary phases to provide the most cost-effective chiral separation solution with Novasep Varicol® technology.

Please contact your local representative for further information.

Benefits & Features

Cost

An advanced continuous chromatography process, Varicol® provides the best productivity, return on investment and the lowest operating costs. Our systems fully integrate solvent recycling to reduce solvent costs by up to 99.9%.

Time

Novasep’s chemists efficiently design the right chromatographic separation method for your intermediate or API. The scalability and robustness of our chromatographic processes, guaranteed by Novasep, will ensure the quickest delivery of API for clinical supplies, process validation, registration and commercial production.

Ease of Use

Take it easy! Novasep patented technologies greatly simplify continuous chromatography.

Novasep simulation and modelling software facilitates the development of your process. Fully compliant with PAT guidelines of the FDA, the ACS™ (Advanced Control System) increases your understanding and control of your manufacturing process.

Other

Please challenge us!