Covalent Chromatography Technology

Covalent chromatography, as indicated by the name, involves the formation (and breaking) of covalent bonds between the solute and the stationary phase. As is usually the case in the chromatography of biologically active proteins, specificity, and mild conditions are required. Covalent chromatography is a method for the separation of molecules, based on the formation of reversible covalent bonds between functional groups in molecules and complementary structures on a stationary solid phase. Covalent chromatography thus involves a synthetic step by which a solute is covalently immobilized to a solid support—the chemisorbent— later followed by chemical cleavage and regeneration of the sorbent.