Fluidisation and dispersion behaviour of small high density pellicular expanded bed adsorbents

The fluidisation and dispersion properties of various agarose-based expanded bed matrices—small high density stainless steel cored prototypes and standard commercial types—were studied in 1-cm diameter expanded bed contactors in which fluid entering the column base is locally stirred. In all cases, fluidisation behaviour was poorly predicted from the Richardson–Zaki correlation, with experimentally determined values of the expansion index being considerably higher than the theoretical values. The reasons for these discrepancies are discussed in detail and the validity of applying this widely used correlation for characterisation of expanded bed systems is questioned. Residence time distribution studies using acetone tracers, demonstrated that in comparison to existing commercial supports, the small pellicular prototype materials generally possessed far superior hydrodynamic properties, which augurs well for their future employment in expanded bed chromatographic separations.