Ion Exchange Resins
BioPro IEX and BioPro IEX SmartSep ion exchange resins are available as a strong anion exchanger (BioPro IEX Q) and a strong cation exchanger (BioPro IEX S). Ion exchange media are widely used in the analysis and purification of biomolecules, such as proteins, antibodies and oligonucleotides. For initial product capture IEX resins with a high dynamic binding capacity (DBC) such as BioPro IEX 75 are advantageous. The high loadability results in higher productivity. For the following intermediate purification and polishing steps smaller particle sizes are typically used to improve the resolution. The BioPro IEX SmartSep resins show excellent resolution and pressure-flow characteristics. This ensures low back pressure even at high flow rates.
MacroSep IEX Q ion exchange resin is specifically designed for the purification of larger biomolecules such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), protein complexes, and plasmid DNA (pDNA). This new strong anion exchange resin offers an optimised macro-porous structure that ensures an efficient purification of these molecules. With its high binding capacity for large particles and molecules and high separation efficiency even at elevated flow rates, MacroSep IEX Q is a perfect addition to DSP platforms.
Your Advantages
- High dynamic binding capacity
- Low non-specific adsorption and high recovery
- Alkaline CIP procedures applicable
- Great pressure-flow characteristics
- Full scalability over all particle sizes for BioPro IEX
- Short delivery for industrial-scale quantities
Available Ion Exchange Resins:
AEX Resins
- BioPro IEX SmartSep Q10
- BioPro IEX SmartSep Q30
- BioPro IEX SmartSep Q20
- BioPro IEX Q75
- MacroSep IEX Q
CEX Resins
| BioPro IEX SmartSep Q10 | BioPro IEX SmartSep Q20 | BioPro IEX SmartSep Q30 | BioPro IEX Q75 | MacroSep IEX Q | |
| Ion Exchange Type | strong anion exchanger | ||||
| Charged Group | -R-N+(CH3)3 | ||||
| Base Material | hydrophilic polymethacrylate beads | ||||
| Particle Size [µm] | 10 | 20 | 30 | 75 | 30 |
| Pore Size | porous | macro-porous | |||
| pH Range | 2.0 - 12.0 (compatible with 1 M NaOH for CIP) | ||||
Ion Exchange Capacity [meq/mL resin] | min. 0.08 | min. 0.08 | min. 0.08 | min. 0.10 | min. 0.08 |
Dynamic Binding Capacity [mg/mL resin] | min. 100 (BSA) | min. 100 (BSA) | min. 100 (BSA) | min. 160 (BSA) | min. 30 (Thyroglobulin) |
Compression Factor | 1.05-1.15 | ||||
Typical Flow Rate | 200-1000 cm/h, max. 2000 cm/h | - | |||
Pressure Limit | 4 MPa | 3 MPa | 3 MPa | 0.3 MPa | 3 MPa |
| BioPro IEX SmartSep S10 | BioPro IEX SmartSep S20 | BioPro IEX SmartSep S30 | BioPro IEX S75 | |
| Ion Exchange Type | strong cation exchanger | |||
| Charged Group | -R-SO3- | |||
| Base Material | hydrophilic polymer beads | |||
| Particle Size [µm] | 10 | 20 | 30 | 75 |
| pH Range | 2.0 - 12.0 (compatible with 1 M NaOH for CIP) | |||
Ion Exchange Capacity [meq/mL resin] | min. 0.08 | min. 0.08 | min. 0.08 | min. 0.10 |
Dynamic Binding Capacity [mg/mL resin] | min. 100 (Lysozyme) | min. 100 (Lysozyme) | min. 100 (Lysozyme) | min. 160 (Lysozyme) |
Compression Factor | 1.05-1.15 | |||
Typical Flow Rate | 200-1000 cm/h, max. 2000 cm/h | |||
Pressure Limit | 4 MPa | 3 MPa | 3 MPa | 0.3 MPa |
Multiple Sample Options Available!
High sample loading at high flow rates is determined by the dynamic binding capacity of an ion exchange resin. The dynamic binding capacity of BioPro is excellent even at high flow rates. When compared to similar competitor products it consistently exhibits a higher dynamic binding capacity. This results in higher sample loading in preparative processes.
The dynamic binding capacity (DBC) of a chromatography resin is a key value of productivity. The higher the DBC, the higher the loadability of the packed column and thus the higher the throughput of the process. Large biomolecules require optimised resins with macro-porous structures for an efficient binding. Bead-based resins with large pores like MacroSep IEX Q offer an optimal binding of large molecules in combination with the advantages of chromatography resin, such as scalability and the possibility of selfpacking. Therefore, it is the optimal solution for every purification from laboratory to large scale with high productivity. In this example, the DBC values of three different materials for Thyroglobulin, a large protein complex with 660 kDa, were determined. MacroSep IEX Q shows the highest DBC and therefore is the ideal solution for the purification of large biomolecules.
The pressure-flow characteristics of a resin have a huge impact on its productivity. MacroSep IEX Q is based on hydrophilic polymer beads with excellent characteristics. The material can be used at elevated flow rates providing excellent resolution. The direct comparison of MacroSep IEX Q with an alternative material at two different flow rates clearly shows that MacroSep IEX Q provides excellent resolution, even at high flow rates. This directly leads to improved process conditions and high productivity.
Cleaning-in-place (CIP) is an essential procedure for the economic use of packed chromatography columns. During use, nonspecific adsorption leads to a decrease in the chromatographic performance with the risk of microbial growth. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions are well established for the removal of precipitated proteins, nucleic acids, endotoxins and viruses. Therefore, it is the first choice for cleaning and sanitising of chromatography resins. This procedure restores the chromatographic performance and ensures a long column lifetime. To evaluate the CIP-stability of MacroSep IEX Q, the following CIP protocol was repeated multiple times.
IgY is a commonly used immunoglobulin from egg yolk. In contrast to human IgG-antibodies, IgY does not bind to Protein A which makes the preparative purification of these molecules challenging. This application shows the successful two-step purification of IgY using IEX as an efficient capturing step.
Recovering high yields of pure pDNA is challenging due to its size and similarity of isoforms. The supercoiled (SC) pDNA needs to be separated from open circular (OC) and linear (L) pDNA. Therefore, a resin is required that gives enough resolution for the separation of the different pDNA isoforms. As shown in the example below MacroSep IEX Q fulfils the high requirements for the purification of pDNA and enables a succesful isolation of the SC pDNA.
During production of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), not all capsids are formed correctly, and some do not contain genetic payload that is crucial for their function. These empty capsids must be separated from the full capsids. This is a very demanding separation task and requires high resolution. The application example below shows the separation of full and empty AAVs. With MacroSep IEX Q, the full AAVs can be isolated with a high purity of 91.2%.
| Title | Document Type | Language | Download |
 Excellent alkaline CIP stability of YMC-Triart Prep leads to long lifetime |
Application Note | EN | |
| Purification of Insulin and Lysozyme with BioPro IEX SmartSep |
Application Note | EN | |
| Purification of Oligonucleotides via Anion Exchange Chromatography |
Application Note | EN | |
| Purification of monoclonal antibodies with BioPro IEX SmartSep |
Application Note | EN | |
| Unlocking the Potential of Plasmid DNA through Efficient Purification |
Application Note | EN | |
 BioPro IEX Materials by YMC |
Brochure | EN | |
| MacroSep IEX Q Resin |
Brochure | EN | |
 BioPro IEX 75 µm Care and Use |
Care and Use Instructions | EN | |
| BioPro IEX Screening Kit Care and Use |
Care and Use Instructions | EN | |
| BioPro IEX SmartSep 10, 20, 30 µm Care and Use |
Care and Use Instructions | EN | |
| Care and Use Instructions MacroSep IEX Q |
Care and Use Instructions | EN | |
 New in DSP: MacroSep IEX Q |
Flyer | EN | |
| Selection Tool for the BioPro IEX Resins |
Flyer | EN | |
 Packen der BioPro IEX Resin in Glassäulen |
Overview | DE | |
| Packing of BioPro IEX Resins into Glass Columns |
Overview | EN | |
| YMC Resins for Preparative Bioseparations |
Overview | EN | |
 Case study of continuous chromatography (MCSGP) on production for oligonucleotides |
Poster | EN | |
| High performance resins for downstream processing of oligonucleotides, proteins and monoclonal antibodies |
Poster | EN | |
| Oligonucleotide purification using anion exchange (AEX) and ion-pair reversed phase chromatography (IP-RP LC) |
Poster | EN | |
| Purification of biopharmaceutical proteins and peptides using ion-exchange bulk media designed for high-throughput purification |
Poster | EN | |
| Purification of oligonucleotides using continuous chromatography (MCSGP) |
Poster | EN | |
| Toward Development of "Generic" Separation Methods for Achrial Pharmaceutical Analysis Using SFC |
Poster | EN | |
 Improving the downstream processes of plasma proteins |
Product Information | EN | |
| Optimierungspotentiale von Prozessen für Plasmaproteine |
Product Information | DE | |
 Efficient mAb Purification with BioPro IEX |
Technical Note | EN | |
| High Temperature Stability of BioPro IEX SmartSep Resins |
Technical Note | EN | |
| How resin packing properties determine excellent chromatographic performance |
Technical Note | EN | |
| Improved DBC for the purification of large biomolecules |
Technical Note | EN | |
| Pressure flow characteristics of BioPro IEX Q75 by YMC |
Technical Note | EN | |
| Pressure flow characteristics of YMC’s BioPro IEX SmartSep |
Technical Note | EN | |
| Scalability of YMC BioPro Q IEX |
Technical Note | EN | |
| Scalability of YMC BioPro S IEX |
Technical Note | EN | |
| What makes DBC so important – And why is it so useful to know how to determine it |
Technical Note | EN | |
 Analysis and Purification of Oligonucleotides by Anion Exchange and Ion-Pairing Reversed Phase Chromatography |
Whitepaper | EN | |
| Grundlagen der Chromatographie für die Analyse und Aufreinigung von Biologika |
Whitepaper | DE |
Please contact YMC for pricing or specific solutions for your purification process.
Julia Bartmann
Product Manager Bulk Media
ph. +49 2064 427-260
| Product | Particle Size | Product Code |
| BioPro IEX SmartSep Q10 | 10 µm | QSA0S10 |
| BioPro IEX SmartSep Q20 | 20 µm | QSA0S20 |
| BioPro IEX SmartSep Q30 | 30 µm | QSA0S30 |
| BioPro IEX Q75 | 75 µm | QAA0S75 |
| MacroSep IEX Q | 30 µm | QM99S30 |
| BioPro IEX SmartSep S10 | 10 µm | SSA0S10 |
| BioPro IEX SmartSep S20 | 20 µm | SSA0S20 |
| BioPro IEX SmartSep S30 | 30 µm | SSA0S30 |
| BioPro IEX S75 | 75 µm | SPA0S75 |
Typical pack sizes:
50 mL, 250 mL, 1 L, 5L, 10 L, 20 L
Larger or customised pack sizes are available on request.
Regulatory support file under non-disclosure agreement. Used in validated cGMP-manufacturing processes. Customised material available on request. DMF registered with FDA.
Multiple Sample Options Available!
Guide to Ion Exchange Resins in Chromatography
What are Ion Exchange Resins
Ion exchange resins are specialised chromatography materials designed for the purification and analysis of charged biomolecules. In IEX chromatography, analytes interact with charged functional groups on the stationary phase, enabling the selective binding and separation of proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules. Depending on the application, ion exchange chromatography resins are available as strong anion exchangers (AEX) or strong cation exchangers (CEX).
How do IEX resins work?
The separation mechanism of IEX resins is based on electrostatic interactions between the charged analyte and the ion exchange media. By adjusting buffer pH and ionic strength, biomolecules can be selectively bound and eluted. This makes ion exchange chromatography highly flexible for different purification strategies, from capture to intermediate purification and polishing.
Applications of ion exchange chromatography resins
Ion exchange chromatography resins are widely used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and research, including:
- Capture and purification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)
- Purification of viral vectors such as AAVs for gene therapy
- Separation of proteins, enzymes, and plasmid DNA (pDNA)
- Removal of host cell proteins (HCPs) and process-related impurities
Advantages of YMC ion exchange media
YMC’s ion exchange chromatography resins combine high dynamic binding capacities with excellent resolution and pressure–flow characteristics. They offer reliable scalability from laboratory to production scale and are engineered for robust performance under demanding process conditions. Whether for small biomolecules, complex protein mixtures, or large viral particles, YMC ion exchange resins provide reproducible results and efficient purification across all DSP platforms.
Need expert support in selecting the right ion exchange resin for your application? Contact YMC Europe today for a non-binding consultation.