Chromatographic purification is essential for preparing modern biologics. Proper manufacturing-scale chromatography column packing is crucial for bioprocessing effective biotherapeutic yield, purity, and quality, as well as efficient process economics and sustainability.

By attending this course, participants will gain an understanding of column packing theoretical fundamentals, including different packing methods and chromatography materials. The majority of the course time is devoted to hands-on experience and practical skills required for proper large-format chromatography column packing. Participants will pack both compressible and incompressible chromatography media, including CHT™ Ceramic Hydroxyapatite Media from Bio-Rad Laboratories, using Axichrom™ and BPG columns, and large-format chromatography workstations, from Cytiva.

The course is offered by the BOKU Core Facility Bioindustrial Pilot Plant (CF BIPP) and the Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering (IBSE) in collaboration with Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

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Qualifications & Skills

Course Content

Theoretical Foundations:

  • Principles of packing chromatography columns
  • Fluid mechanics of flow in packed beds, and the theoretical basis of mass transfer
  • Different compressible and incompressible resin considerations
  • Packing methods and their selection
  • Overview of downstream process development in biotechnology, including scale-up from laboratory/bench scale to process/manufacturing scale

Practical training for pilot and process/manufacturing scale chromatography:

  • Planning and preparation for packing
  • Safe process-scale working practices
  • Packing compressible resins and incompressible media in various column hardware
  • Conditioning of packed columns
  • Testing, qualifying, and other analytical methods for verifying packing quality, including Height Equivalent to a Theoretical Plate (HETP) and Asymmetry (As)
  • Troubleshooting packed columns
  • Column unpacking and media recovery

Learning Outcomes

Successful participants

  • properly pack chromatography columns for bioprocesses using the specialized knowledge they have acquired
  • evaluate the differences between various packing methods and chromatography materials
  • apply their knowledge of packing compressible and incompressible chromatography media in practice
  • evaluate the most important quality characteristics of a column packing
  • troubleshoot common packing problems and identify the corrective actions available

Who Should Attend

The course is designed for 

  • biopharma research, development, and process development personnel, working at bench, pilot, and process scales involved in scale-up
  • biotherapeutic manufacturing and production personnel responsible, including operators and managers, involved in column packing, authoring of packing procedures, and addressing column issues
  • individuals seeking to gain experience and knowledge of downstream processing and purification

Short Facts

  • Certificate of Participation: "Process-Scale Chromatography Column Packing Operator"
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Language: English
  • Maximum participants: 12
  • Participation Fees: € 1.200,-

Next date:

Date: May 12–13, 2027

Place: BOKU Core Facility Bioindustrial Pilot Plant (CF BIPP), BOKU University Vienna, Muthgasse I, Nußdorfer Lände 11, 1190 Wien

Alumni Discount

Members of the BOKU Alumni Association receive a 5% discount. 
Please indicate this on the registration form.
Read all the terms and conditions here.
 

Organisation

Core Facility BioIndustrial Pilot Plant (CF BIPP)

Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering (IBSE), Department of Biotechnology and Food Science

Bio-Rad Laboratories GmbH

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