When companies desire to increase the volume and scale up their production using a non-homogeneous magnetic separation rack, they use higher magnetic forces in order to separate the biomagnetic beads. As a result, the forces experienced by the beads nearest the magnet are extremely high. In addition, the time of separation also needs to be increased substantially when the volume is increased in order to collect an acceptable percentage of beads in a non-homogeneous system.
During non-homogeneous separation in a magnetic separation rack, in order to generate a magnetic force, you need to use magnet arrangements to create a variation in the magnetic field. In this situation, the magnetic force will always vary with distance from the magnets.
When a non-homogenous magnetic separation rack (a classical system) is used for scaling up a process, the conditions for a larger batch will completely change from the smaller batch. In these classical non-homogeneous magnetic separator, both the magnetic field gradient and the magnetic state of the beads (either linear or saturated) will vary depending on their position and relative distance to the magnet.
While it might be thought that ‘bigger is better’ during a scale-up process, merely using a larger magnet in a magnetic separation rack for larger volumes generates very different conditions. This leads to inconsistencies and other problems with the final product.
Working with magnetic separation rack? Keep reading!
Do you want to learn how to take the most of your magnetic separation rack? There are lots of common mistakes related to the scale-up of biomagnetic separation processes, and lots of them imply the use of non-homogeneous magnetic racks.
When biomagnetic particle kits are initially developed, R&D companies work with small volumes in a magnetic separation rack in order to test and optimize a number of variables. When the kit is deemed successful, the company obviously wants to take the kit to market and consequently ramp up production.
