Chromatography……..but not as we know it

The use of countercurrent chromatography (CCC) as a preparative technique is seen to occupy a niche area of separation science and is largely used to isolate natural products. The technique has however considerable untapped potential both at the laboratory preparative scale and also at larger scale………….

Introduction
This article gives a chromatographer’s perspective of the potential of countercurrent chromatography (CCC) in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically relating to highperformance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC) instruments. The work described has been performed by a consortium consisting of GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Dynamic Extractions and Brunel University and is part of a three year project sponsored by the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board as part of its high
value manufacturing programme.

Although CCC has always had a relatively low profile in separation science we believe that it has considerable unrealised potential to improve both laboratory and manufacturing efficiency. In the laboratory for example the opportunity is to enhance overall separation capability. This will require the integration of CCC technology to a similar extent to that achieved in HPLC giving the same degree of instrumental control and automated method development. This will allow the instrumentation to be integrated into a broader strategy for preparative separations. As a manufacturing tool, CCC promises lower costs compared to other large scale chromatographic separation technology with potential applications such as reclamation of waste streams for high value products.