HPLC-based device and method for separating high complex substance mixtures

US6080318A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• AnalytiCon AG Biotechnologie Pharmazie · DE

Inventors

• Holger Gumm · Berlin, DE
• Lutz Müller-Kuhrt · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 8, 1999
• Grant date: Jun 27, 2000
• Expiry date: Apr 8, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N30/466
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention concerns an HPLC-based device and method for separating high complex substance mixtures. Plant and microbial extracts are high complex substance mixtures. They contain large amounts of extremely polar and non-polar materials. In principle, said mixtures can be separated by using a chromatic method. However, separation with existing chromatographic devices, for instance HPLC installations, is extremely time-consuming. The invention seeks to create a HPLC installation that separates fully automatically high complex substances in a very short time in such a way that said substances are broken down into their components in an almost pure state and can then be fed into a test system. To this end, said HPLC-based device comprises separation column units (A, F),fractionating column units (E, G), detector units (7, and 20, 21), pumping units (B, C, D) and fraction collecting units. These units, including all separating or fractionating columns, are interconnected and controlled by multiple way valves and by a computer unit that ensures the software-controlled operational interaction of the device.