Microchromatographic column and method

A liquid microchromatographic column having a tubular barrel portion terminating in a reduced diameter discharge tip, a tubular reservoir portion discharging into said barrel portion having an open end for receiving the fluid solution to be separated, said barrel portion containing finely divided ion exchange particles supported on a filter disc, said particles separating the fluid solution received in said reservoir portion, and a cap received on said reservoir portion open end in sealed relation, said cap being cup-shaped having an end portion and an internally threaded lip portion threadably received on said reservoir portion open end, and said cap end portion having an integral generally cylindrical portion extending through said cap end portion on opposite sides of said end portion having an inlet port extending through said cylindrical portion communicating with said reservoir portion, said inlet port having an elongated smooth generally cylindrical internal surface receiving the cylindrical discharge tip of a microsyringe in sealed relation for increasing the pressure in said reservoir and forming a pressure drop across said ion exchange particles and forcing fluid through said ion exchange particles, thereby reducing the time required for chromatographic separation.

A method of separating fluid solutions in a chromatographic column, said column having an open end for receiving the fluid solution, finely divided ion exchange particles supported in said column for separating the fluid solution and a cap received on said column open end in sealed relation having an elongated smooth, generally cylindrical inlet port, said method comprising:

• a. introducing the fluid solution to be separated and an elutant into said column, through said open end, and
• b. inserting the discharge tip of a hand operated pressure means into said cap inlet port in sealed relation and creating a pressure drop across said ion exchange particles by compressing said hand operated pressure means to force said eluent through said ion exchange particles, thereby reducing the time required for chromatographic separation.

A method of separating a fluid solution in a microchromatographic column, said column having a tubular reservoir having an open end for receiving the solution to be separated, said reservoir discharging into a barrel portion of said column having finely divided ion exchange particles supported therein, and a cap closing said reservoir end portion in sealed relation, said cap having an inlet port communicating with said reservoir, the chromatographic method of separation comprising:

• a. introducing the fluid solution to be separated and a first elutant into said reservoir, through said open end,
• b. inserting the discharge tip of a microsyringe having a plunger into said cap inlet port in sealed relation with said inlet port and depressing said plunger to increase the pressure in said reservoir and create a pressure drop across said ion exchange particles, and
• c. introducing a second fluid elutant into said reservoir, through said open end and inserting the discharge tip of said microsyringe into said cap inlet port and depressing said syringe plunger to create a pressure drop across said ion exchange particles to force said elutant through said ion exchange particles.