Liquid chromatography and apparatus for the same

A liquid chromatography process comprising

• a. connecting an outlet of a concentration column to a discharge outlet in an interrupted state of communication of the concentration column with a separation column and feeding a washing solution to the concentration column through a passage switch means,
• b. discharging the washing solution,
• c. feeding a sample solution containing adsorbable components to be measured to said concentration column through said switch means while keeping said switch means and the outlet of the concentration column in the same state as in said step (a),
• d. discharging the solvent of the sample solution flowing out of said concentration column while accumulating the components within said concentration column resulting in concentration of said adsorbable components,
• e. communicating said concentration column with said separation column, and feeding an eluting solution to said concentration column through said switch means,
• f. passing the accumulated components flowing out of said concentration column to said separation column,
• g. interrupting the communication of said concentration column with said separation column, and feeding said eluting solution to said separation column,
• h. separating the components from one another, and
• i. detecting the components, steps (h) and (i) being accomplished simultaneously with steps (a), (b), (c) and (d).

Apparatus comprising a packed concentration column capable of accumulating adsorbable components contained in a dilute sample solution by passing the dilute sample solution therethrough in advance, the concentration column containing an adsorbent capable of adsorbing said adsorbable components in narrow bands, the concentration column having an adsorbent encasing section provided with means for connecting at least one lid to the encasing section, filter means provided at both ends of the encasing section, said at least one lid containing a liquid passage passing through the lid from an external lid surface to an internal lid surface adjacent a said filter, the encasing section and the lid being detachable from the apparatus while the encasing section and the lid are connected to one another,

• holding means detachably mounting said concentration column so that said concentration column can accumulate adsorbable components at a location remote from said apparatus and then be mounted on said holding means, wherein said holding means detachably mounts said concentration column by pressing said concentration column at opposite ends thereof against a resilient means of said holding means, said holding means defining an open side for facilitating insertion and withdrawal of said concentration column therefrom, and
• means for feeding a desorbing solution to said concentration column in an amount smaller than the amount of sample fed to said concentration column,
• a separation column for separating the components desorbed by said desorbing solution from one another,
• valve means for maintaining a communication of said concentration column with said separation column while feeding said desorbing solution to said concentration column, and connecting said concentration column to a discharge outlet for external discharge of a solvent after the feeding of said desorbing solution is completed,
• means for feeding an eluting solution different from said desorbing solution to said separation column without passing through said concentration column, and
• means for detecting the components flowing out of said separation column.

Apparatus comprising

• a concentration column having an adsorbent-encasing section provided with screw grooves on its outside surface, at least one lid screw-connectable to the encasing section, and filters provided at both ends of the encasing section, an adsorbent being filled in the encasing section, a liquid passage formed in the lid and passing through the lid from an external lid surface to an internal lid surface adjacent a filter, the encasing section and the lid being detachable from the apparatus while the encasing section and the lid are connected to each other, and adsorbable components being retainable in narrow bands in the adsorbent in the concentration column when the concentration column is disengaged from the apparatus,
• feeding means for feeding an eluting solution for desorbing the adsorbable components to said concentration column after said concentration column is engaged in the apparatus,
• a separation column for separating the components passing out of said concentration column from one another,
• a passage switch means for communicating said concentration column with said separation column while the eluting solution containing the adsorbable components from said concentration column is led to said separation column, and communicating another passage for feeding an eluting solution for separating the adsorbable components to said separation column after the feeding of the eluting solution containing the adsorbable components is completed,
• means for holding said concentration column between the means for feeding the eluting solution for the desorbing and said switch means, wherein said holding means detachably mounts said concentration column by pressing said concentration column at opposite ends thereof against a resilient means of said holding means, said holding means defining an open side for facilitating insertion and withdrawal of said concentration column therefrom,
• a passage having an opening provided on said means for holding the concentration column wherein an end of the passage having the opening is in contact with an open end of the lid when said concentration column is inserted into the apparatus, and
• means for detecting the components flowing out of said separation column.

Apparatus for carrying out a liquid chromatography process on a dilute sample solution containing a plurality of adsorbable components therein, said apparatus comprising

• a concentration column containing an adsorbent for said adsorbable components, said concentration column having an adsorbent-encasing section provided with screw grooves on its outside surface, at least one lid screw-connectable to the encasing section, and filters provided at both ends of the encasing section, an adsorbent being filled in the encasing section, a liquid passage formed in the lid and passing through the lid from an external lid surface to an internal lid surface adjacent a filter, the encasing section and the lid being detachable from the apparatus while the encasing section and the lid are connected to each other, and adsorbable components being retainable in narrow bands in the adsorbent in the concentration column when the concentration column is disengaged from the apparatus,
• holding means detachably mounting said concentration column so that said concentration column can accumulate adsorbable components at a location remote from said apparatus and then be mounted on said holding means, wherein said holding means detachably mounts said concentration column by pressing said concentration column at opposite ends thereof against a resilient means of said holding means said holding means defining an open side for facilitating insertion and withdrawal of said concentration column therefrom,
• first feeding means for feeding said sample solution in a predetermined amount to said concentration column,
• second feeding means for feeding a desorbing solution to said concentration column in an amount less than said predetermined amount,
• a separation column containing an adsorbent for said adsorbable components,
• valve means for maintaining a communication of said concentration column with said separation column while said desorbing solution is fed to said concentration column, and connecting said concentration column to a discharge outlet for external discharge of a solvent after the feeding of said desorbing solution is completed,
• a third feeding means for feeding an eluting solution to said separation column different from said desorbing solution without passing through said concentration column after the desorbing solution flowing out of said concentration column is led to said separation column, and
• means for detecting the adsorbable components passing out of said separation column.

A chromatographic apparatus comprising:

• a concentration column having an adsorbent-encasing section provided with screw grooves on its outside surface, at least one lid screw-connectable to the encasing section, and filters provided at both ends of the encasing section, the encasing section filled with an adsorbent, and a liquid passage formed in the lid and passing through the lid from an external lid surface to an internal lid surface adjacent a filter, the encasing section and the lid being detachable from the apparatus while the encasing section and the lid are connected to each other, an accumulation of adsorbed components in the concentration column resulting from passage of a predetermined amount of a dilute sample solution containing adsorbable components through the concentration column in advance;
• holding means detachably mounting said concentration column so that said concentration column can accumulate adsorbable components at a location remote from said apparatus and then be mounted on said holding means wherein said holding means detachably mounts said concentration column by pressing said concentration column at opposite ends thereof against a resilient means of said holding means, said holding means defining an open side for facilitating insertion and withdrawal of said concentration column therefrom;
• feeding means for feedng a smaller volume of a desorbing solution than that of said sample solution to said concentration column after said concentration column is engaged in said holding means;
• a separation column for separating components passing out of said concentration column from one another;
• means for feeding an eluting solution to said separation column;
• valve means for maintaining a communication of said concentration column with said separation column while the desorbing solution containing the adsorbable components flows out of said concentraion column, and communicating said means for feeding the eluting solution with said separation column after the flowing of the desorbing solution from said concentration column is completed;
• and
• means for detecting the components flowing out of said separation column, the apparatus being free from a means for feeding the sample solution to said concentration column.

A liquid chromatography process comprising:

• feeding a predetermined amount of a sample solution having adsorbable components therein to a concentration column capable of producing a solution of said adsorbable components in higher concentration than the concentration of the adsorbable components in the sample solution to be measured;
• interrupting a communication of the concentration column with a separation column while feeding said sample solution to the concentration column, and discharging an effluent from the concentration column thereby accumulating the adsorbable components in said concentration column;
• communicating said concentration column with said separation column, and feeding a desorbing solution for desorbing the adsorbable components accumulated in said concentration column into said concentration column, an amount of the desorbing solution being smaller than said predetermined amount of said sample solution;
• directing the desorbing solution flowing out of said concentration column to said separation column;
• separating the components from one another with an eluting solution fed to said separation column;
• and
• detecting the components contained in an effluent from said separation column.