Think big – purity on a large scale with preparative HPLC

In this article, our aim is to show how preparative HPLC contributes to the isolation of pure active ingredients in drug development. Drugs must be highly purified, as contaminants can impair efficacy and safety. While analytical HPLC tends to separate small quantities, preparative HPLC allows for the purification of larger quantities of material due to larger column volumes (20–300 mL) and higher capacities (300–2000 mg), but requires higher flow rates and solvent consumption. For method development, the process should first be optimized analytically and then scaled up to preparative conditions; compatible column series facilitate transferability and automation. Using the example of the synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin®) from salicylic acid, this article demonstrates how preparative HPLC reliably separates salicylic acid residues and ensures high purity. Preparative HPLC is versatile not only in pharmaceutical research but also in the food, biotechnology, natural products, and cosmetics industries, thereby contributing to patient safety and product quality.