Automated sample collection in supercritical fluid chromatography

US6685828B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Berger Instruments, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Terry A. Berger · Newark, US
• Kimber D. Fogelman · Hockessin, US
• Kenneth Klein · Wilmington, US
• L. Thompson Staats, III · McKeesport, US
• Mark Nickerson · Landenberg, US
• Paul F. Bente, III · New Garden Township, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 9, 2002
• Grant date: Feb 3, 2004
• Expiry date: May 16, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N30/82
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A system for collection of liquid phase sample fractions from a supercritical fluid chromatography system is disclosed. The system has different ways of gathering the liquid phase into a collection chamber and provides for automated removal of liquid phase from a collection chamber into separate collection container. A separate pressure scheme is invoked upon the collection chambers to move liquid phase out of a chamber and into the separate collection container. In addition, the invention provides a renewal system for the collection chambers where each chamber returns to an uncontaminated stated by washing with a cleaning solution after removal of collected liquid phase. Spent cleaner from a chamber is purged using the pressure system into a waste stream for disposal.