Data processing device for comprehensive two-dimensional chromatograph

A data processing device for a comprehensive two-dimensional chromatograph for processing data collected with a comprehensive two-dimensional chromatograph in which a sample separated into components by a primary column is divided at predetermined intervals of time, the divided sample is introduced into a secondary column to be further separated into components, and the components are introduced into a detector to be individually detected, the data processing device comprising:

• a) a chromatogram creator for creating a two-dimensional chromatogram for each of two samples to be compared, based on the data collected with the comprehensive two-dimensional chromatograph for the two samples, with two axes of the chromatogram respectively indicating a retention time in the primary column and a retention time in the secondary column;
• b) a differential chromatogram creator for creating a two-dimensional differential chromatogram by calculating a difference in a signal intensity calculated at each corresponding temporal position between a first two-dimensional chromatogram and a second two-dimensional chromatogram created by the chromatogram creator;
• c) a blob detector for detecting blobs on the first and second two-dimensional chromatograms as well as on the two-dimensional differential chromatogram according to a predetermined criterion;
• d) a matching-blob extractor for conducting a comparison between the blobs detected on the two-dimensional differential chromatogram and the blobs detected on the first two-dimensional chromatogram as well as a comparison between the blobs detected on the two-dimensional differential chromatogram and the blobs detected on the second two-dimensional chromatogram, for extracting a blob existing at the same temporal position in each of the two-dimensional chromatograms, and for calculating a ratio of the difference in signal intensity;
• and
• e) a specific blob indicator for displaying, on the first and second two-dimensional chromatograms, a blob extracted by the matching-blob extractor as the blob located at the same temporal position as a blob on the two-dimensional differential chromatogram based on the ratio of the difference in signal intensity, in such a manner that the extracted blob is distinguishable from other blobs,
• wherein α [%]=[{I(A)−I(B)}/I(A)]×100,
• wherein α is the ratio of the difference, I(A) is an intensity of a blob on the first two-dimensional chromatogram, and I(B) is an intensity of a corresponding blob on the second two-dimensional chromatogram.