Slow Rotary Countercurrent Chromatography

A number of important parameters affecting the countercurrent chromatography (CCC) technology, including the variation of retention of stationary phase, and mixing efficiency with rotational speeds, optimum rotational speed for retention of stationary phase of different solvent systems, improvement of retention of stationary phase in the column by changing the inner structure of column tubing, and optimum of the column size for a better retention of stationary phases were studied. The results showed that the convoluted tube yielded higher retention of stationary phase than the standard tube, that most solvent systems produced a significant retention of stationary phase at an optimum rotational speed, and that a suitable size column is helpful for retention of stationary phase. Based on the basic studies, an apparatus equipped with a 10 L column of 8.5 mm I.D. convoluted tube was made, and successfully used, to purify 150 g of crude tea extract yielding 40 g of epigallocatechin galllate of over 92.7% purity at a recovery rate of 82.6%. The result suggests that it is possible to further scale up this slow rotary countercurrent chromatograph for industrial use.