Preparatory supercritical fluid extraction using sealed chamber
AssigneeIsco, Inc.
InventorsDale Alan Davison, Henry LeRoy Walters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preparatory supercritical extraction cartridge includes a chamber for sample having a volume in the range of 20 cubic centimeters to 2,000 cubic centimeters. An inlet and an outlet are fastened to the cartridge walls by threads and sealed to said cartridge walls With spring loaded seals so that they can be removed with a torque requirement of less than 35 pound inches. Inlet and outlet tubing are fastened to the inlet and outlet by quick release connectors.
Claims17
Apparatus for preparatory super-critical fluid extraction of solid contents within a cartridge, comprising:
- walls defining a cartridge having a central chamber containing sample to be extracted;
- said chamber having a volume of in the range of 20 cubic centimeters to 2,000 cubic centimeters;
- inlet means for permitting supercritical fluid to enter said chamber;
- outlet means for permitting extractant to be removed from said chamber;
- at least one end cap mounted for fastening to said cartridge walls;
- said at least one end cap including one of said inlet means and outlet means;
- and
- isolating means between the at least one end cap and the chamber for preventing solid contents from reaching said at least one end cap;
- said isolating means incorporating fluid permeable means conveying fluid between the at least one end cap and the chamber;
- said isolating means being removable from the cartridge without the use of a tool;
- a seal;
- fastener means for fastening said at least one end cap to said cartridge walls for sealing said at least one end cap to said cartridge walls with a torque requirement for separating the two of less than 35 pound inches, and
- said fastener means including a first path from said one of the inlet means and outlet means through said isolating means into the central chamber and a second path from said one of the inlet means and outlet means to said seal, wherein said seal is pressurized whereby said at least one end cap is sealed without tightening with a tool while said central chamber is pressurized.
A method of preparatory supercritical extraction, comprising the steps of:
- inserting sample into a cartridge having a central chamber for containing sample to be extracted, wherein said chamber has a volume in the range of 20 cubic centimeters to 2,000 cubic centimeters;
- forcing supercritical fluid to enter said chamber through a first path from an inlet means, wherein the inlet means is within an end cap removably mounted to a cartridge barrel by fastener means;
- forcing supercritical fluid against a seal for said chamber through a separate second path from said inlet means
- wherein said chamber is sealed from the outside;
- permitting extract to be removed from said chamber through an outlet means;
- removing the fastener means from said cartridge barrel after extraction by hand by applying a torque for separating the two of less than 35 pound inches.
A method of making preparatory supercritical extraction apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- forming a cartridge having a central chamber for containing sample to be extracted, wherein said chamber has a volume in the range of 20 cubic centimeters to 2,000 cubic centimeters;
- attaching an end cap having inlet means for supercritical fluid to enter said chamber through one passageway and to apply pressure to a seal through another separate passageway to seal said chamber, wherein the inlet means is mounted to a cartridge barrel by fastener means that permits the removal by hand of the fastener means from said cartridge barrel after extraction by applying a torque for separating the two of less than 35 pound inches;
- and
- forming outlet means for extract to be removed from said chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.