Protection of the chromatographic bed in dynamic axial compression chromatography devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a chromatography device comprising: a column (12) intended to house, between its two ends (16a, 16b) a chromatographic bed (14) and a fluid to be chromatographed, a fluid layer (48) being defined between a surface of the bed (14) and one (16a) of the ends of the column (12); a piston (36) sliding in the column (12), the piston (36) being one of the ends (16a, 16b) of the column (12); at least a first probe (45, 46) for detecting the surface of the bed (14), the probe (45, 46) being mounted on the end (16a) of the column (12) defining the layer (48); and means (52) for adjusting the position of the piston (36) according to the detection of the surface of the bed (14) by the probe (45, 46). The invention also relates to processes for separating at least two compounds of a fluid to be chromatographed and to methods of adjusting the position of the piston with respect to the surface of the chromatographic bed using the chromatography device. The invention has the advantage of allowing effective separation of the compounds of the fluid to be chromatographed while ensuring that the bed is protected.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.