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Devices and associated processes suitable for small and large scale purification of molecules in a fluid, and provides embodiments that overcome the difficulties of transitioning purification from research stages to production scale-up. The invention relates to the formation and characteristics of s

Devices and associated processes suitable for small and large scale purification of molecules in a fluid, and provides embodiments that overcome the difficulties of transitioning purification from research stages to production scale-up. The invention relates to the formation and characteristics of substantially uniform, continuous, and homogeneous porous separation matrices. The matrices are in the form of a polymeric layer with substantially uniform thickness and porosity. The polymeric layer is formed for the purpose of providing convective flow through the separation matrix.

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1. A method for constructing a separation device to separate a solute in a fluid sample, said method comprising: a) preparing a gellable polymer in a liquid state;b) adding a predetermined volume of said gellable polymer in the liquid state into a cylindrical porous support having a lumen, a main ax

1. A method for constructing a separation device to separate a solute in a fluid sample, said method comprising: a) preparing a gellable polymer in a liquid state;b) adding a predetermined volume of said gellable polymer in the liquid state into a cylindrical porous support having a lumen, a main axis, an inside diameter, an outside diameter, an inside wall, and a bottom end, said gellable polymer being added into said lumen, wherein said main axis of said cylindrical porous support is vertically oriented, and said bottom end is closed;c) placing a cylindrical rod into said lumen of said cylindrical porous support concentrically with said main axis, said cylindrical rod having a diameter smaller than said inside diameter of said cylindrical porous support forming a substantially uniform gap between said cylindrical rod and said inside wall, wherein a fluid gellable polymer layer of uniform thickness is formed in said substantially uniform gap contiguous with, and exterior to, said inside wall, and wherein said predetermined volume is sufficient to fill said gap;d) inducing said gellable polymer to gel, whereby a porous separation matrix of substantially uniform thickness is formed in said gel contiguous with, and exterior to, said inside wall;e) removing said cylindrical rod from said cylindrical porous support leaving said gellable polymer; and,f) encasing said porous separation matrix and said cylindrical porous support in a non-porous housing, said non-porous housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid inlet and fluid outlet configured to deliver and constrain said fluid sample to flow through pores of said porous separation matrix and to collect purified solutes from said separation device. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said inducing said gellable polymer to gel is accomplished by temperature changes, addition and removal of solutes, and cross linking. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined volume of said gellable polymer is equal to or greater than the volume of said porous separation matrix as calculated from geometry of said cylindrical porous support and said cylindrical rod. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said porous separations matrix is cross linked. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said porous separations matrix is modified to carry an antibody, an antigen, an electrically charged molecule, a hydrophobic molecule, or a metal ion binding molecule. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said porous support is of composition non-reactive with said solute in said fluid sample. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said porous support is cross linked to a surface of said porous separations matrix contiguous with said porous support. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein thickness of said porous separation matrix is in the range of approximately 0.001 to 10 millimeter, and preferably in the range of approximately 0.1 to 5 millimeter. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein porosity of said porous separations matrix is in the range of approximately 0.001 to 100 micrometers and preferably in the range of approximately 0.01 to 50 micrometers. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein porosity of said porous support is in the range of approximately 0.01 to 500 micrometers and preferably in the range of approximately 0.1 to 100 micrometers. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said outside diameter and said inside diameter define a thickness of said porous support in the range of approximately 0.1 to 50 millimeters, and more preferably the range of approximately 1 and 10 millimeters. 12. A method for constructing a separation device to separate a solute in a fluid sample, said method comprising: a) preparing a gellable polymer in a liquid state;b) casting a predetermined quantity of said gellable polymer onto an upper surface of a flat porous support oriented substantially horizontally wherein, said gellable polymer forms a layer of substantially uniform thickness contiguous with, and on top of, said upper surface;c) inducing said polymer in said layer of substantially uniform thickness to gel, whereby a porous separation matrix of substantially uniform thickness is formed in said gel;d) encasing said porous separation matrix and said flat porous support in a non-porous housing, said non-porous housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid inlet and fluid outlet being configured to deliver and constrain said fluid sample to flow through pores of said porous separation matrix and to collect purified solutes from said separation device. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said predetermined quantity is sufficient to attain said thickness of said separation matrix. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said inducing said gellable polymer to gel is accomplished by temperature changes, addition and removal of solutes, or cross linking. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said porous separations matrix is cross linked. 16. The method of claim 12 wherein said porous separations matrix is modified to carry an antibody, an antigen, an electrically charged molecule, a hydrophobic molecule, or a metal ion binding molecule. 17. The method of claim 12 wherein said porous support is cross linked to the surface of said porous separations matrix contiguous with said porous support. 18. The method of claim 12 wherein said thickness of said porous separation matrix is in the range of approximately 0.001 millimeter to 10 millimeter, and preferably in the range of approximately 0.1 millimeter to 5 millimeter. 19. The method of claim 12 wherein porosity of said porous separations matrix is in the range of approximately 0.001 to 100 micrometers and preferably in the range of approximately 0.01 micrometers to 50 micrometers. 20. The method of claim 12 wherein thickness of said flat porous support is in the range of approximately 0.1 to 50 millimeters, and preferably the range of approximately 1 to 10 millimeters. 21. The method of claim 12 wherein porosity of said porous support is in the order of approximately 0.01 to 500 micrometers and preferably in the range of approximately 0.1 to 100 micrometers.