Device and method for changing solution conditions in serial flow

A device 100 comprising:

• (a) a sample reservoir 101 containing a sample comprising a polymer or a colloid, the sample reservoir 101 comprising a sample reservoir outlet conduit 101c;
• (b) a first system 110 comprising:
• (i) a first mixing chamber 111 adapted to contain a first mixing chamber solution, the first mixing chamber comprising a sample inlet 111a, a first solvent inlet 111b, and a first mixing chamber outlet conduit 111c;
• (ii) a first sample pump 112 in fluid communication with the sample reservoir 101 and the first mixing chamber 111, the first sample pump 112 adapted to deliver the sample from the sample reservoir 101 through the sample reservoir outlet conduit 101c into the sample inlet 111a of the first mixing chamber 111;
• (iii) a first solvent reservoir 113 containing a first solvent, the first solvent reservoir 113 comprising a first solvent reservoir outlet conduit 113c, wherein the first solvent changes a first condition of the sample in the first mixing chamber solution, the first condition being selected from the group consisting of ionic strength, pH value, surfactant content, and solvent polarity;
• (iv) a first solvent pump 114 in fluid communication with the first solvent reservoir 113 and the first mixing chamber 111, the first solvent pump 114 adapted to deliver the first solvent from the first solvent reservoir 113 though the first solvent reservoir outlet conduit 113c into the first solvent inlet 111b of the first mixing chamber 111;
• and
• (v) a first detector train 115 comprising a first detector train inlet, a first detector train outlet, a first detector 115a between the first detector train inlet and the first detector train outlet, and a first additional detector 115b between the first detector train inlet and the first detector train outlet, wherein the first detector train 115 is in fluid communication with the first mixing chamber 111 through the first mixing chamber outlet conduit 111c of the first mixing chamber 111 and the first detector train inlet of the first detector train 115, the first detector 115a is configured to detect a property of the first mixing chamber solution, and the first additional detector 115b is configured to detect a property of the first mixing chamber solution;
• (c) a second system 120 serial to, and downstream of, the first system 110, the second system 120 comprising:
• (i) a second mixing chamber 121 connected to the first detector train 115 outlet and adapted to contain a second mixing chamber solution, the second mixing chamber 121 comprising a second mixing chamber inlet 121a, a second solvent inlet 121b, and a second mixing chamber outlet conduit 121c, the second mixing chamber 121 in fluid communication with the first detector train outlet;
• (ii) a second solvent reservoir 123 containing a second solvent that is different from the first solvent, the second solvent reservoir 123 comprising a second solvent reservoir outlet conduit 123c, wherein the second solvent changes a second condition of the first mixing chamber solution in the second mixing chamber solution, the second condition being different from the first condition and being selected from the group consisting of ionic strength, pH value, surfactant content, and solvent polarity;
• (iii) a second solvent pump 124 in fluid communication with the second solvent reservoir 123 and the second mixing chamber 121, the second solvent pump 124 adapted to deliver the second solvent from the second solvent reservoir 123 through the second solvent reservoir outlet conduit 123c into the second solvent inlet 121b of the second mixing chamber 121;
• and
• (iv) a second detector train 125 comprising a second detector train inlet, a second detector train outlet, a second detector 125a between the second detector train inlet and the second detector train outlet, and a second additional detector 125b between the second detector train inlet and the second detector train outlet, wherein the second detector train 125 is in fluid communication with the second mixing chamber 121 through the second mixing chamber outlet conduit 121c of the second mixing chamber 121 and the second detector train inlet of the second detector train 125, the second detector 125a is configured to detect a property of the second mixing chamber solution, and the second additional detector 125b is configured to detect a property of the second mixing chamber solution;
• and
• (d) a sample detector 105 configured to detect a property of the sample, the sample detector 105 being in fluid communication with the sample reservoir 101 and the first mixing chamber 111.