Method of operating a chromatographic apparatus

US4001112A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Philip Edwin Barker · Birmingham, GB
• Ronald Edward Deeble

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 22, 1975
• Grant date: Jan 4, 1977
• Expiry date: Dec 22, 1995

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01D15/1821
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention provides a method of operating a chromatographic apparatus for separating a fluid mixture. The apparatus has a plurality of compartments containing a chromatographic packing, conduit means interconnecting the compartments in at least one closed loop series, isolating valves in said conduits for isolating each compartment from the remaining compartments, and, for each compartment, a valved purge fluid inlet, a valved purge fluid outlet, a valved carrier fluid inlet, a valved carrier fluid outlet, and a valved fluid mixture inlet. The valved fluid mixture inlet is adapted to be coupled to a source of a fluid mixture to be separated chromatographically. The isolating valves are sequentially operated for successively isolating the compartments from the other compartments at least one at a time in one direction around the loop, and the valves of the purge fluid inlets and the purge fluid outlets for the isolated compartments are appropriately opened to allow purge fluid to pass through one or more thereof. The purge fluid inlet and purge fluid outlet of each compartment are closed when the corresponding compartment is in communication with the other compartments.