Parallel fluid processing systems and methods

A method for correcting retention times in multi-column liquid chromatography, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of liquid chromatography columns in fluid communication with a common mobile phase source, each column of the plurality of columns containing a stationary phase material and having an associated detection region, wherein the mobile phase source supplies a mobile phase to the plurality of columns at a selected mobile phase source output flow rate;
• providing, for the detection region associated with each column of the plurality of columns, a detector in sensory communication with the detection region;
• supplying a first calibrant to each column of the plurality of columns, wherein the first calibrant contains at least a first component and a second component, with each of the first component and second component having different retention characteristics relative to the stationary phase material;
• eluting the at least first component and second component in each column of the plurality of columns according to a first mobile phase source output flow rate and a first mobile phase composition profile;
• measuring, for each column of the plurality of columns, a first time for the first component to reach the associated detection region and a second time for the second component to reach the associated detection region;
• deriving, for each column of the plurality of columns, at least one correction factor based on at least one of the first time and the second time;
• supplying, to each column of the plurality of columns, at least one sample containing a plurality of sample components;
• eluting at least two components of the plurality of sample components of the sample in each column of the plurality of columns to obtain raw chromatographic data;
• and
• applying, for each column of the plurality of columns, the at least one correction factor to the raw chromatographic data to yield corrected chromatographic data with corrected retention times.

A system for correcting retention times in multi-column liquid chromatography, the system comprising:

• a plurality of liquid chromatography columns for performing pressure-driven chromatographic separations;
• a common mobile phase source in fluid communication with the plurality of columns;
• a plurality of detection regions associated with the plurality of separation columns;
• at least one detector in sensory communication with the plurality of detection regions;
• a data storage device for receiving and storing data obtained from the at least one detector;
• and
• a microprocessor for executing instructions to derive correction factors based on data obtained from the at least one detector, and to apply the correction factors to generate corrected chromatographic data with corrected retention times.