Online sampling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12392689-B2
Application number	US-202318132371-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2023
Priority date	Apr 11, 2022
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

It is an object to enable a sample of a sample source to be injected into a LC while a pressure state of the sample source is maintained. There are provided an injector ( 2 ) including a first sample loop ( 18 ) and an injection valve ( 20 ), a sample supply channel ( 26 ), a pump part ( 4 ), a second sample loop ( 12 ), a sample source channel ( 52 ), and a path construction part. The path construction part is configured to be capable of selectively constructing a sampling path and a sample supply path. The sampling path is configured so that the sample source channel ( 52 ) and the pump part ( 4 ) are fluidly connected to each other in a closed system with the second sample loop ( 12 ) interposed therebetween and the sample is drawn from the sample source to the second sample loop ( 12 ) using the pump part ( 4 ), and the sample supply path is configured so that the second sample loop ( 12 ) is separated from the sample source channel ( 52 ) while maintaining a closed system state of the sample source channel ( 52 ) and the pump part ( 4 ) or another pump ( 40 ) different from the pump part and the sample supply channel ( 26 ) are fluidly connected to each other with the second sample loop ( 12 ) interposed therebetween and the sample held in the second sample loop ( 12 ) is supplied to the injector ( 2 ) through the sample supply channel ( 26 ) using the pump part ( 4 ) or the other pump ( 40 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An online sampling system configured to collect a sample from a sample source and to inject the sample into a mobile phase flowing through an analysis channel of a liquid chromatograph, the online sampling system comprising:
an injector including a first sample loop for temporarily holding a sample and an injection valve for switching between a state in which the first sample loop is incorporated in the analysis channel and a state in which the first sample loop is separated from the analysis channel;
a sample supply channel fluidly connected to the injector and configured to supply the sample to the injector;
a pump part configured to suck and discharge a liquid;
a second sample loop provided separately from the first sample loop;
a sample source channel communicating with the sample source;
a path construction part including one or more switching valves, the path construction part being configured to selectively build multiple fluid flow paths in the online sampling system by switching the one or more switching valves, wherein
the path construction part being configured to be capable of selectively constructing a sampling path and a sample supply path,
the sampling path is configured so that the sample source channel and the pump part are fluidly connected to each other in a closed system with the second sample loop interposed therebetween and the sample is drawn from the sample source to the second sample loop using the pump part, and
the sample supply path is configured so that the second sample loop is separated from the sample source channel while maintaining a closed system state of the sample source channel and the pump part or another pump different from the pump part and the sample supply channel are fluidly connected to each other with the second sample loop interposed therebetween and the sample held in the second sample loop is supplied to the injector through the sample supply channel using the pump part or the other pump.

2. The online sampling system according to claim 1 , wherein
the one or more switching valves includes one switching valve having a first port and a second port,
the sample supply channel is provided to fluidly connect the first port of the one switching valve and one port of the injection valve, and
the pump part is fluidly connected to the second port of the one switching valve.

3. The online sampling system according to claim 1 , wherein
the other pump is provided to feed a solvent, and
the online sampling system is configured so that the other pump and the sample supply channel are fluidly connected to each other with the second sample loop interposed therebetween when the path construction part constructs the sample supply path, and thereby, the sample held in the second sample loop is supplied to the injector together with the solvent fed by the other pump.

4. The online sampling system according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a container part in which a container for containing a sample is set,
wherein the injector includes a sampling channel having a tip provided with a needle for accessing the container set in the container part to suck a liquid from the container and discharging the liquid to the container, and the injector is configured so that the sample supply channel and the sampling channel may be connected to each other, thereby, it can be achieved that the sample and the solvent supplied through the sample supply channel are stored in the container by fluidly connecting the sample supply channel to the container when the path construction part constructs the sample supply path.

5. The online sampling system according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control operations of the injector, the pump part, the other pump, and the path construction part,
the controller being configured to perform the following:
a sampling step of constructing the sampling path and drawing a sample of the sample source into the second sample loop to hold the sample;
a sample dilution step of constructing the sample supply path after the sampling step is completed, causing the sample supply channel and the sampling channel to fluidly communicate with each other and the needle to access the container being empty, and supplying the sample held in the second sample loop using the other pump to the container together with the solvent to dilute the sample in the container;
a sample sucking step of constructing the sucking and discharging path by fluidly connecting the pump part to the sample supply channel while interposing the first sample loop between the sample supply channel and the sampling channel after the sample dilution step is completed, and drawing the sample diluted in the container into the first sample loop using the pump part; and
an injection step of injecting the sample into the mobile phase by incorporating the first sample loop holding the sample into the analysis channel after the sample sucking step is completed.

6. The online sampling system according to claim 4 , wherein
the sample supply channel and the sampling channel always fluidly communicate with each other via the injection valve, and the first sample loop is interposed between the sample supply channel and the sampling channel when the first sample loop is disconnected from the analysis channel, and
the path construction part is configured so that a sucking and discharging path, which is for the pump part to suck and discharge a liquid through the needle, may be selectively constructed by fluidly connecting the pump part to the sample supply channel.

7. The online sampling system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pretreatment channel including a pretreatment part that performs pretreatment on a sample drawn from the sample source toward the second sample loop, the pretreatment channel being interposed between the second sample loop and the sample source channel when the sampling path is constructed,
wherein the path construction part is configured to selectively construct a pretreatment part cleaning path for supplying the solvent to the pretreatment part using the other pump by fluidly connecting the liquid feed pump and the pretreatment channel while disconnecting the pretreatment channel from the sample source channel and connecting the pretreatment channel to a drain.

8. The online sampling system according to claim 7 , wherein the pretreatment part is a filter for removing substances unnecessary for analysis from a sample, or a remelting device for remelting a sample precipitated in a channel.

9. The online sampling system according to claim 7 , wherein the path construction part is configured to allow the second sample loop to be interposed between the liquid feed pump and the pretreatment channel when the pretreatment part cleaning path is constructed.

10. The online sampling system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control operations of the injector, the pump part, and the path construction part, and also control an operation of the other pump when the other pump is provided,
the controller being configured to perform the following:
a sampling step of constructing the sampling path and drawing a sample of the sample source into the second sample loop to hold the sample;
a sample supply step of constructing the sample supply path after the sampling step is completed to supply the sample held in the second sample loop to the injector using the pump part or the other pump; and
an injection step of injecting the sample into the mobile phase by incorporating the first sample loop holding the sample into the analysis channel after the sample supply step is completed.

Assignees

• Shimadzu Corp

Inventors

• Nagai Yusuke
• Iwata Yosuke
• Yamazaki Tomoyuki

Classifications

• G01N1/14 Primary

  Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices · CPC title

• G01N2001/205

  using a valve · CPC title

• G01N30/24

  Automatic injection systems · CPC title

• G01N2030/202

  rotary valves · CPC title

• G01N2030/201

  multiport valves, i.e. having more than two ports · CPC title