Continuous fractionation of enantiomer pairs in free solution using an electrophoretic analog of simulated moving bed chromatography

Continuous fractionation of the left and right enantiomers of Piperoxan was performed in free solution in a vortex-stabilized electrophoresis apparatus. Sulfated beta-cyclodextrin was used as the chiral selector. A capillary electrophoresis (CE) study of the separation of Piperoxan enantiomers was carried out in order to find the buffer conditions that produce the maximum peak separation time between the two enantiomers and the optimal chiral selector concentration. These peak separation times were then used to calculate the electrophoretic mobilities of the enantiomer-ligand complexes. The difference in electrophoretic mobilities, when used in a preliminary model of the enantiomer separation, indicated that, by imposing a fluid flow opposite the direction of electromigration, it would be possible to force the fast and slow enantiomers to move in opposite directions within the vortex-stabilized apparatus. Using the predictions of the preliminary separation model, the vortex stabilized electrophoresis apparatus was configured with a feed port at the center of the chamber axis and offtake ports near the cathode and anode. This allowed for continuous operation of the apparatus. Continuous fractionations were completed at throughputs of 1.5 and 4.0 mg/h with both offtakes showing greater than 99% enantiomeric purity at 4.0 mg/h using CE. Fractionation was achieved at a throughput of 10 mg/h, but while the slow enantiomer was recovered with greater than 99% purity, only 96% enantiomeric purity of the fast stereoisomer was achieved. The loss of resolution at higher volumetric throughputs supports our hypothesis that a mobility-dependent "window" of operation exists in which two solutes can be completely separated.