US 8,206,590 B1 · Method to separate and process particles by compartmentalized field flow fractionation

Abstract

A method is described for separating and processing liquid-borne particles within an aliquot thereof following injection into a field flow fractionator. Said fractionation method may be employed also to capture, for subsequent segregation, specific predefined classes of such particles. The unique fractionation method disclosed contains means to control the applied transverse flow at each designated location along the length of said channel. In one embodiment of the method a separate compartment lies below each distinct location and corresponding membrane supporting permeable frit segment of the fractionator, providing the individual means to control the localized flow through the membrane section thereabove. Employment of a corresponding concentric compartment implementation achieves the same type of compartmentalized cross flow when applied to a hollow fiber fractionation means.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method to fractionate and process a liquid aliquot containing particles of varying sizes and compositions comprising the steps of:

A. selecting the aliquot to be processed;
B. providing a channel comprising
i) a port through which a mobile phase may enter and flow along said channel continuously,
ii) an injection port though which said aliquot is injected into said mobile phase,
iii) an exit port through which constituents of said aliquot may leave said channel after interactions therewith, and
iv) an accumulation wall comprising a porous structure through which a portion of said mobile phase flow transverse to said flow along said channel may pass, wherein said accumulation wall is divided into a plurality of distinct regions, and flow transverse thereto passes through each said distinct region of said accumulation wall into a separate compartment, each said compartment provided with independent means to regulate said transverse flow there into;
C. controlling said means to regulate transverse flow into each said compartment to achieve aliquot processing desired;
D. injecting said aliquot into said mobile phase, and
E. collecting said processed aliquot.

6 more elements

A method for separating a specific size range of particles contained within a liquid borne sample from the remainder of said sample comprising the steps of

A. injecting said liquid borne sample into an improved flow field-flow fractionation channel, said channel comprising
1. ports permitting the in-flow of a mobile phase, the injection of said liquid borne sample, and the outflow of said mobile phase and sample, and
2. an accumulation wall comprising a porous structure through which a portion of said mobile phase flow transverse to said flow along said channel may pass, wherein said accumulation wall is divided into a plurality of distinct regions, and flow transverse thereto passes through each said distinct region of said accumulation wall into a separate compartment, each said compartment provided with independent means to regulate said transverse flow there into;
B. adjusting the transverse flow of said mobile phase into one or more of said compartments such that the particles above the lower threshold of selected size range are retained or delayed within said channel;
C. allowing remaining sample of particles below the selected size range to exit through said outflow port;
D. adjusting the transverse flow of said mobile phase into one or more of said compartments such that the remaining particles contained within said channel proceed along its length;
E. adjusting the transverse flow of said mobile phase into one or more of the compartments such that the particles above the upper threshold of selected size range are retained or delayed within said channel thus
F. allowing the particles within said selected size range to exit through said outflow port;
and
G. collecting the sample of particles within the selected size range.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method to separate and process particles by compartmentalized field flow fractionation

Life of this patent

Method to separate and process particles by compartmentalized field flow fractionation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19