Volatile eluent preparation

A method of performing a chromatographic separation using a chromatographic system according comprising:

• (a) an eluent generator, comprising:
• (i) a housing configured to be pressurizable by gas, comprising an annular void defined by said housing, and a gas inlet for said gas and a gas outlet for said gas in fluid communication with said annular void;
• (ii) a membrane permeable to said gas defining an eluent flow channel disposed within said annular void, said eluent flow channel having an eluent precursor fluid inlet and an eluent outlet;
• (ii) a source of gas in fluidic communication with said gas inlet;
• (iii) a source of said eluent precursor fluid;
• and
• (b) a chromatography column disposed downstream of and in fluidic communication with said eluent outlet,
• said method comprising:
• (a1) flowing said eluent precursor fluid through said eluent flow channel while said annular void is maintained under positive pressure of said gas, said positive pressure selected to be of a magnitude sufficient to cause said gas to cross said gas permeable membrane, dissolving in said eluent precursor fluid, thereby forming said eluent;
• (b1) passing said eluent from said eluent outlet into said chromatography column;
• (c1) contacting said chromatography column with said analyte, thereby performing said chromatographic separation of said analyte.

An eluent generator configured for generating an eluent of a pre-determined composition and for incorporation into a system for chromatographic separation of an analyte, said eluent generator comprising:

• (a) a housing configured to be pressurizable by gas, comprising an annular void defined by said housing, and a gas inlet for said gas and a gas outlet for said gas in fluid communication with said annular void;
• (b) a membrane permeable to said gas defining an eluent flow channel disposed within said annular void, said eluent flow channel having an eluent precursor fluid inlet and an eluent outlet, said outlet configured for coupling to a chromatography column and fluidically communicating therewith;
• (c) a first solenoid communicating fluidically with said gas inlet and controlled by a first controller;
• and
• (d) a second solenoid communicating fluidically with said gas outlet and controlled by a second controller,
• wherein said first controller and said second controller are programmed to operate cooperatively to control pressure of said gas in said annular void at a predetermined value, thereby generating said eluent of said pre-determined composition.