Method of introducing a sample into a separation column and corresponding system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021102922-A1
Application number	US-202017072997-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 16, 2020
Priority date	Nov 10, 2016
Publication date	Apr 8, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of introducing a sample into a separation column includes introducing the sample into a trap column, isolating the trap column from ambient atmosphere and pressurizing the trap column to a first pressure while the trap column is isolated from ambient atmosphere, providing a fluid connection between the trap column and the separation column after pressurizing the trap column to the first pressure, supplying the sample from the trap column to the separation column.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of introducing a sample into a separation column of a liquid chromatography system, the method comprising:
introducing the sample into a trap column; isolating the trap column from an ambient atmosphere and pressurizing the trap column to a first pressure while the trap column is isolated from the ambient atmosphere; providing a fluid connection between the trap column and the separation column after pressurizing the trap column to the first pressure; and supplying the sample from the trap column to the separation column, wherein the liquid chromatography system comprises an analytical pump adapted to provide a flow of pressurized fluid, wherein the method further comprises: providing a fluid connection between the trap column and the analytical pump, wherein the fluid connection between the trap column and the analytical pump is provided after pressurizing the trap column to the first pressure.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid chromatography system further comprises a metering device, in which the metering device pressurizes the trap column to the first pressure while the trap column is isolated from the ambient atmosphere, and
wherein the introducing the sample into the trap column comprises: sucking a volume of the sample into the liquid chromatography system with the metering device.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first pressure exceeds the ambient pressure by at least 10 bar.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first pressure exceeds the ambient pressure by a value ranging from 10 bar to 1500 bar.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the introducing the sample into the trap column includes adhering constituents of the sample to the trap column.

6 . The method according to claim 1 further comprises:
providing a fluid connection between the trap column and the analytical pump, wherein the fluid connection between the trap column and the analytical pump is provided simultaneously with providing the fluid connection between the trap column and the separation column.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metering device comprises a first connection port and a second connection port, the first connection port and the second connection port both being configured to fluidly connect the metering device to other components of the liquid chromatography system.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid chromatography system comprises:
a needle;
a seat configured to receive the needle; and
a first distribution valve; and
wherein the step of introducing the sample into the trap column further comprises:
moving the needle to a sample reservoir;
sucking the sample into the needle from the sample reservoir and optionally sucking the sample into a tubing section adjacent to the needle;
moving the needle to the seat;
setting the first distribution valve to provide a fluid connection between the seat and the trap column; and
pushing the sample into the trap column.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , in which the providing the fluid connection between the trap column and the separation column comprises setting the first distribution valve to a flush configuration.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the pushing the sample into the trap column is with the metering device.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the introducing the sample into the trap column comprises:
flowing the sample into the trap column in a first flow direction, and wherein the supplying the sample from the trap column to the separation column comprises:
flowing the sample leaving the trap column in a second flow direction, in which the second flow direction is opposite to the first flow direction.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the introducing the sample into the trap column comprises:
flowing the sample into the trap column in a first flow direction, and wherein the supplying the sample from the trap column to the separation column comprises:
flowing the sample leaving the trap column in the first flow direction.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
depressurizing the trap column with the metering device after supplying the sample from the trap column to the separation column.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , in which the first distribution valve comprises:
a plurality of ports and a plurality of connecting elements configured to changeably connect the plurality of ports of the first distribution valve, the plurality of ports of the first distribution valve comprises:
a first port directly fluidly connected to the seat;
a second port and a third port that are both directly fluidly connected to the trap column;
a fourth port directly fluidly connected to the separation column;
a fifth port directly fluidly connected to the analytical pump; and
a sixth port directly fluidly connected to a second distributor valve;
wherein the liquid chromatography system further comprises the second distributor valve, wherein the second distributor valve includes a plurality of ports and a plurality of connecting elements configured to changeably connect the ports of the second distributor valve, the plurality of ports of the second distribution valve comprises:
a seventh port directly fluidly connected to the first distributor valve;
an eighth port directly fluidly connected to a waste;
a ninth port directly fluidly connected to a first solvent reservoir; and
a tenth port directly fluidly connected to the metering device.

15 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
separating constituents of the sample in the separation column at an analytical pressure, wherein the first pressure is at least 10% of a maximum of the analytical pressure.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the first pressure is at least 50% of the maximum of the analytical pressure

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the first pressure is at least 90% of the maximum of the analytical pressure

18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the first pressure is at the analytical pressure.

Assignees

• Dionex Softron Gmbh

Inventors

• Hollnagel Christoph
• Hochgraeber Hermann
• Wachinger Thomas

Classifications

• G01N30/22 Primary

  in high pressure liquid systems · CPC title

• G01N2030/201

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

• G01N30/36

  in high pressure liquid systems · CPC title

• G01N30/14

  by elimination of some components · CPC title

• G01N2030/207

  with metering cavity, e.g. sample loop · CPC title