Greening Flash Chromatography

Proof of principle is demonstrated for a novel approach for using pressurized liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) as a mobile phase for flash chromatography purification, rather than traditionally used organic solvents. Regulation of a pressurized CO2 supply line rather than specialized and expensive CO2 pumps and chillers typically used in supercritical fluid chromatography applications greatly simplifies operations while reducing costs. Evaluation of a prototype instrument reveals encouraging purification, recovery, and reduction in organic solvent usage.