Centrifugal fast chromatograph

A centrifugal fast chromatograph for automatically performing, monitoring, and comparing multiple sample elutions, comprising:

• a chromatograph rotor;
• a rotor drive for rotating said chromatograph rotor;
• a plurality of chromatographic columns equiangularly mounted on said chromatographic rotor, said chromatographic columns each comprising an optical flow cell having transparent windows disposed at one end of said chromatographic column;
• a sample holding transfer disk located at the center of said chromatographic rotor, said transfer disk having a plurality of sample wells equiangularly disposed around the periphery of said transfer disk, each of said sample wells corresponding to a respective said chromatographic column;
• first and second distributor rings coaxially mounted on said chromatograph rotor;
• a fluid carrying center line extending from said transfer disk via said first distributor ring to the inner end of said chromatographic column and having a center line valve to direct fluid to an exit drain;
• a fluid carrying edge line extending from said outer end of said chromatographic column to said second distributor ring and having an edge line valve to direct fluid to an exit drain;
• a gradient maker in fluid communication with said chromatographic columns through both said center line and said edge line to provide a liquid gradient for column elution and a regenerating solution for column regeneration;
• stream apportioning blades equiangularly disposed on the inner periphery of said chromatograph rotor for directing solution from said sample wells and a liquid gradient stream from said gradient maker to said chromatographic columns;
• a valve system for reversing flow through the column while maintaining centrifugally-generated pressure and flow;
• a light source mounted on one side of said chromatograph rotor oriented to shine a light beam through said optical flow cells;
• a photodetector mounted on the side of said chromatograph rotor opposite said one side, and opposite said light source to detect light shone through said optical flow cells;
• and
• a microprocessor type computer for controlling said gradient maker, and said chromatograph rotor through said rotor drive, for controlling the chromatographic process, for monitoring the chromatographic process, and for providing real time CRT display of all chromatograph columns.