Apparatus and methods for controlling fluids provided to a chromatographic detector

A method for controlling the operation of a detector in a chromatographic system comprising a first source of support fluid and a second source of carrier fluid wherein at least one support fluid is passed from said first source to the detector, comprising the steps of:

• identifying at least one detector response attribute;
• determining at least one physicochemical property of the support fluid;
• providing to a processing means a data set which comprises:
• the detector response attribute;
• and
• the physicochemical property;
• generating a control signal in relation to the data set;
• and
• modifying the physicochemical property in relation to control signal.

A method for controlling the operation of a detector in a chromatographic system comprising a first source of support fluid and a second source of carrier fluid wherein a support fluid is passed from said first source to the detector and a carrier fluid is passed from said second source through a column to the detector, comprising the steps of:

• identifying at least one detector response attribute selected from the group consisting of sensitivity, selectivity, linear dynamic range, noninterference, activation, and robustness;
• determining at least one physicochemical property of the support fluid selected from the group consisting of composition, pressure, flow rate, viscosity, temperature, density, electronegativity, flammability, thermal conductivity, molecular weight, spectral emissions, and specific heat;
• determining at least one physicochemical property of the carrier fluid selected from the group consisting of composition, pressure, flow rate, viscosity, temperature, density, electronegativity, flammability, thermal conductivity, molecular weight, spectral emissions, and specific heat;
• providing to a processing means a data set which comprises:
• the detector response attribute;
• the physicochemical property of the support fluid;
• and
• the physicochemical property of the carrier fluid;
• generating a control signal in relation to the data set;
• and
• modifying a physicochemical property of the support fluid or the carrier fluid in relation to the control signal.

An apparatus for performing a chromatographic separation of a compound wherein a carrier fluid comprising said compound is passed through a column, comprising:

• a detector in fluid communication with the column, comprising means for determining a physicochemical property of the carrier fluid;
• means for generating a control signal in relation to the physicochemical property of the carrier fluid;
• and
• means for providing an amount of make-up fluid to the chromatographic system at a point between the column and the detector in relation to the control signal such that the carrier fluid passes to the detector with a predetermined physicochemical property.

An apparatus for controlling the operation of a detector in a chromatographic system comprising a first source of support fluid and a second source of carrier fluid wherein at least one support fluid is passed from said first source to the detector, comprising:

• means for identifying at least one detector response attribute;
• means for determining at least one physicochemical property of the support fluid;
• processing means for generating a control signal in relation to a data set which comprises:
• the detector response attribute;
• and
• the physicochemical property;
• and
• means for modifying the physicochemical property in relation to the control signal.

An apparatus for controlling the operation of a detector in a chromatographic system comprising a first source of support fluid and a second source of carrier fluid wherein a support fluid is passed from said first source to the detector and a carrier fluid is passed from said second source through a column to the detector, comprising:

• means for identifying at least one detector response attribute selected from the group consisting of sensitivity, selectivity, linear dynamic range, noninterference, activation, and robustness;
• means for determining at least one physicochemical property of the support fluid selected from the group consisting of composition, pressure, flow rate, viscosity, temperature, density, electronegativity, flammability, thermal conductivity, molecular weight, spectral emissions, and specific heat;
• means for determining at least one physicochemical property of the carrier fluid selected from the group consisting of pressure, flow rate, composition, viscosity, temperature, density, electronegativity, flammability, and thermal conductivity;
• processing means for generating a control signal in relation to a data set which comprises:
• the detector response attribute;
• the physicochemical property of the support fluid;
• and
• the physicochemical property of the carrier fluid;
• and
• means for modifying a physicochemical property of the support fluid or the carrier fluid in relation to the control signal.