Column fitting device and method

A column assembly for flash chromatography and the like, comprising

• a chromatographic column having an exterior flange at its upstream end and a tapered downstream end region,
• a downstream fitting sealed in the column's downstream portion and providing a fluid passageway for liquid flow out of the column,
• an upstream fitting composed of (i) a piston inserted into the end of the column adjacent said flange, and having a fluid passageway for liquid flow into the column, (ii) an enlarged-diameter member having a contact surface in contact with the column flange, and (iii) a circumferential seal encircling said piston and providing a fluid-tight seal between the piston and interior end region of the column, and capable of withstanding an internal column pressure of at least about 50 psi,
• a snap-on polymeric ring having an inner annular groove in which the column flange and fitting's enlarged-diameter member are received, thus to maintain said seal when fluid is forced through the fitting by application of pressure to fluid within the column, and
• a chromatography medium filing said column between said upstream and downstream fittings.

A method of preparing a column of the type having a having an exterior flange at its upstream end and a downstream end region sealed with a downstream fitting, for use in flash chromatography or the like, comprising

• (a) adding a chromatography matrix material to the column to a level in the column within a selected distance from the upstream end of the column,
• (b) positioning in the upstream end of the column, a fitting having (i) a piston insertable into the column end, (ii) a circumferential seal encircling said piston, for providing a fluid-tight seal between the piston and interior end region of the column, and (iii) an external threaded enlarged-diameter member opposite the piston,
• (c) engaging the enlarged-diameter member of the clamp with a threaded sleeve having a reduced-diameter lip for engaging the column flange when the sleeve is threaded on said fitting, and
• (d) tightening the sleeve on the fitting until the piston is brought into contact with the matrix material or into contact with a frit placed between the matrix material and the plug.

A fitting/coupling device for a chromatography column or the like having a threaded end region and designed to hold a chromatography medium, comprising

• (i) a threaded body adapted to be threadedly attached to the column end region, said body defining an interior facing well,
• (ii) a frit contained within said well and designed for supporting the chromatography medium in such column,
• (iii) a coupling stem extending from the downstream end of said body and adapted for friction-fit coupling to a coupling receptacle in a flow device, and
• (iv) a cap rotatably mounted on said body adapted to rotatably engage a threaded portion of such coupling receptacle to lock the coupling stem within such receptacle.