Convergence to Steady-state and Boundary Layer Profiles in a Linear Chromatography System

We study the hyperbolic system of equations of the so-called linear transport model in a true moving bed chromatography device with four ports. By using methods based on a suitable energy functional we show that all solutions approach exponentially a unique steady-state solution. Then, with the use of asymptotic analysis techniques we calculate the limit profiles of these steadystate solutions when the mass transfer coefficient between the liquid and solid phases tends to infinity. Along this singular limit sharp boundary layers appear near some ports. We are able to obtain explicit and simple formulas for these limit profiles.