AXIAL-DISPERSION IN LIQUID MAGNETICALLY STABILIZED FLUIDIZED-BEDS

Magnetic stabilization permits the expansion of a packed bed without mixing of solid particles. This allows operation with a low pressure drop, free from clogging, and high column efficiency. The performance of magnetically stabilized fluidized beds (MSFB), developed for affinity separation, was studied in terms of axial dispersion, the controlling factor in column efficiency. Porous beads of chitosan-containing magnetite particles were used as the stationary phase. Bed expansion increased with increase in flow-rate and with decrease in magnetic field strength. The axial dispersion coefficient was evaluated by moment analysis of the impulse response curves. The axial dispersion for the MSFB was comparable to that of a packed bed and smaller than that of a fluidized bed. The chromatographic behaviour of the MSFB was consistent with the above results.