A chromatography system for monitoring a process condition and in real time adjusting a chromatographic operating parameter to the process condition, the chromatography system comprising: a chromatography column having an inlet end and an outlet end and containing a porous matrix; a pump having a continuously variable pumping speed and arranged to pump a fluid at a continuously variable rate from a reservoir into the inlet end of the chromatography column; a main downstream effluent path extending from the outlet end of the chromatography column, the main downstream effluent path for generally directing an effluent flowing out of the outlet end of the chromatography column; a closeable bifurcated fluid path communicatively coupled to the main downstream effluent path, the closeable bifurcated fluid path including: a first flow path for directing at least a first portion of the effluent back to the reservoir or to a second chromatography column; and a second flow path for directing at least a second portion of the effluent to an exit of the chromatography system; a sensor positioned in the main downstream effluent path and configured to detect at least one signal indicative of the presence or absence of a component in the effluent, wherein the component is indicative of a process condition within the chromatography system; a controller operably connected to the sensor, and to the pump; a first valve operably connected to the controller and positioned in the first flow path such that when the first valve is in an open position, effluent can flow back to the reservoir or to a second chromatography column; and a second valve operably connected to the controller and positioned in the second flow path, such that when the second valve is in an open position, effluent can exit the chromatography system, and wherein the position of the first valve and the position of the second valve are each operably controlled by the controller, characterized in that the process condition is a column breakthrough and in that the controller is adapted to slow the pump in response to a signal indicative of the presence of the component in the effluent, said column breakthrough being defined as the moment when the component or contaminant appears in the column effluent and is detected by the sensor. a chromatography column having an inlet end and an outlet end and containing a porous matrix; a pump having a continuously variable pumping speed and arranged to pump a fluid at a continuously variable rate from a reservoir into the inlet end of the chromatography column; a main downstream effluent path extending from the outlet end of the chromatography column, the main downstream effluent path for generally directing an effluent flowing out of the outlet end of the chromatography column; a closeable bifurcated fluid path communicatively coupled to the main downstream effluent path, the closeable bifurcated fluid path including: a first flow path for directing at least a first portion of the effluent back to the reservoir or to a second chromatography column; and a second flow path for directing at least a second portion of the effluent to an exit of the chromatography system; a sensor positioned in the main downstream effluent path and configured to detect at least one signal indicative of the presence or absence of a component in the effluent, wherein the component is indicative of a process condition within the chromatography system; a controller operably connected to the sensor, and to the pump; a first valve operably connected to the controller and positioned in the first flow path such that when the first valve is in an open position, effluent can flow back to the reservoir or to a second chromatography column; and a second valve operably connected to the controller and positioned in the second flow path, such that when the second valve is in an open position, effluent can exit the chromatography system, and wherein the position of the first valve and the position of the second valve are each operably controlled by the controller, characterized in that the process condition is a column breakthrough and in that the controller is adapted to slow the pump in response to a signal indicative of the presence of the component in the effluent, said column breakthrough being defined as the moment when the component or contaminant appears in the column effluent and is detected by the sensor.