Continuous vapor phase chromatography

A chromatographic process in which both the gas phase and the liquid/solid phase are mobile and traversing in opposing directions through a common column which has one or more thermal gradients impressed lengthwise across it, and in which a mixture to be chromotograph is continuously introduced, partitioned and collected as fractions from the gas phase where:

• A. The said thermal gradients are formed by simultaneously heating a section of the column and cooling another section through the use of heat exchangers;
• B. The said liquid/solid phase moves in direction in the column toward increasing column temperatures;
• C. The said gas phase moves in a direction opposite the liquid/solid phase and toward increasing column temperatures;
• D. The said mixture to be chromatographed is introduced to the column at the lower temperature end of the column and at a metered rate;
• The said fractions of the mixture are collected through the use of ducts which are dispersed along and intersect with the column, and said ducts are fitted with condensers and gas flow control devices.