Laboratory Research Focus
Our laboratory is dedicated to elucidating the mechanisms governing retention behavior in liquid chromatography and to the design of chromatographic purification processes. By integrating interdisciplinary theoretical and experimental techniques—including spectroscopic analysis, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena—we probe and predict the molecular recognition mechanisms responsible for retention behavior.
Purification Technologies for Biomass
In recent decades, growing concerns over the depletion of petroleum resources and environmental sustainability have driven interest in eco-friendly materials, including their applications in 3D printing. Lignocellulosic biomass—one of the most abundant raw materials on Earth—comprises approximately 95 % cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, along with minor amounts of protein and other extractives. Owing to its renewability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility, lignocellulosic biomass has been extensively used in papermaking, biofuels, and biocomposite materials. Over the past few decades, the efficient conversion and utilization of renewable lignocellulosic biomass has emerged as a major research focus worldwide. Since the upstream purification and separation steps account for the majority of overall processing costs, our core objective is to develop effective and economically viable separation methods for biomass mixtures—specifically targeting the purification of feedstocks suitable for printing and packaging applications—and to optimize these processes toward a competitive green manufacturing platform.
Chiral Recognition Mechanism
The separation of chiral molecules remains a critical purification technique in the pharmaceutical industry, as many drugs are chiral and their enantiomers can exhibit markedly different biological activities. LC has become the predominant method for chiral separations. Although chiral separation techniques are now widely adopted, their theoretical underpinning remains poorly understood; separation outcomes still largely rely on empirical rules, thereby constraining both the development and potential advancement of chiral chromatography.
In this project, we employ LC, molecular spectroscopy, and molecular simulation to investigate the most commonly used polysaccharide-based chiral sorbents. Our aim is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms driving enantioselective retention, to construct a generalizable mechanistic model, and ultimately to enable the prediction and assessment of separation performance.
Image: Davankov, V. A., Chirality 1997, 9, 99.
Retention Model
The choice and combination of solvents in chromatographic procedures are frequently optimized to improve separation performance. Retention models mathematically describe the relationship between a solute’s retention time and the composition of the eluent. In this project, we systematically study and evaluate common sorbent–solvent combinations, aiming to provide a more precise theoretical account of solvent effects on separation. Furthermore, we seek to extend the model to broaden its applicability across diverse chromatographic systems.
Image: Tsui et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 2011, 115, 12785.
Simulated Moving Bed (SMB)
Packed-column chromatography is widely used in chemical-process separations, offering higher product purity and ambient-temperature operation compared to traditional distillation. However, relatively high operational costs have historically limited its use to high-value products, such as pharmaceuticals, foods, and fine chemicals. The advent of simulated moving bed (SMB) technology has transformed batch-mode chromatographic processes into continuous operations. Similar to the design of a distillation column, SMB allows partial recycling of the mobile-phase solvent, dramatically reducing solvent consumption and operating expenses. These advantages have led to mature SMB equipment and process designs in Europe and North America, with configurations customized to specific process requirements.
In Taiwan, local expertise and equipment development for SMB remain in their infancy. Only a few companies actively promoting SMB face resistance due to the higher capital costs and the technical demands of process design and operation. Addressing these challenges, our research team focuses on advancing SMB process-design technologies to facilitate wider adoption within Taiwan’s industrial sector.
Image: Xie et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2003, 42, 4055