US 6,632,353 B2 · Rapid sample collection in supercritical fluid chromatography

Abstract

A process and device for chromatography, such as preparative and analytical supercritical fluid chromatography, or supercritical fluid extraction for a liquid phase SFC collection system that separates and retains eluted components from sample injections. The process efficiently separates liquid and gas phases in the flow stream upstream of a collection vessel and without additional pressure schemes or solvent extractions imposed on the flowstream. Sample fractions are collected from sample component concentration peaks based upon the chromatographic elution of the sample components. Samples are repeatedly the injected into the mobile phase flow stream and collected into large volume collection containers, thereby allowing longer unattended run times and cost-efficient sample purification and recovery.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A system for collecting samples from a flow stream containing a mixture of highly compressed gas, compressible liquid or supercritical fluid and a relatively incompressible liquid, comprising:

an injection valve injecting discrete samples into said flow stream;
a separation device to elute solutes of said samples;
a detector to detect concentrations of said solutes in said flow stream;
a phase separation stage to control the pressure, temperature and velocity of said flow stream to enhance separation processes comprising a series of heaters and transfer lines to separate a monophasic flow stream into liquid and gas phases;
an expansion space in the flow stream that is sized to create a point of expansion of said flow stream and wherein the linear velocity of said flow stream is slowed;
at least one collection device to retain said liquid phase.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/113,599Filed 29 Mar 2002 · continuation in part

Priority

26 Jun 2000

Published

US 2002/0139752 A13 Oct 2002

Granted

14 Oct 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B01D 11/0203
Of solids: with a supercritical fluid
B01D 15/247
Relating to the treatment of the fractions to be distributed: fraction collectors
B01D 15/40
Characterised by the separation mechanism: using supercritical fluid as mobile phase or eluent
G01N 1/18
In the liquid or fluent state: with provision for splitting samples into portions

Family

Application09/607,316Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Jun 2000

US 6,413,428 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jul 2002

US 2002/0139752 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Oct 2002

US 6,632,353 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Rapid sample collection in supercritical fluid chromatography

Life of this patent

Rapid sample collection in supercritical fluid chromatography

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims4