US 5,846,292 AGranted

Chromatograph with column extraction

AssigneeBoard of Supervisors at Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College

InventorEdward B. Overton

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Abstract

A gas chromatograph and method of chromatography are provided. Analytes, those compounds to be tested, are extracted from the sample by moving the sample into a column which has a stationary phase along the column walls. The column has two sections which are different in length. The longer section is heated and the analytes move to the shorter section. The longer section is then cooled and the entire column is heated. The device then functions as an analytical column and the analytes move out of the shorter section, through the longer section, and out of the column. A detector placed at the end of the column's longer section detects the presence of the compounds as they exit the column. In an alternate embodiment two separate columns are provided. One column is used as the extraction column and the other is used as the analytical column.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for chromatography comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a continuous column having a first section and a second section, said first and second sections being fluidly connected and each said section having temperature adjustment means, said first section having a free end and a connecting end, said second section having a free end and a connecting end, said connecting ends of said first and second section being connected to each other as part of said continuous column, said column having a stationary phase throughout;
(2) flowing a sample into said column, said sample having analytes in a sample matrix;
(3) heating said first section while flowing a carrier gas into said column via said first section free end and while venting at said second section free end such that substantially all of said analytes in said first section are moved out of said first section toward said second section;
(4) cooling said first section;
(5) heating said column while flowing a carrier gas into said second section free end such that substantially all of said analytes in said second section are moved through said first section and out of said column via said first section free end;
and
(6) detecting said analytes which exit said column.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.