Patent ID: 6458273
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: B01D,B01J,G01N

Abstract:
A high through liquid chromatography column assembly configured to receive first and second packing materials and a selected sample for flow therethrough to achieve a selected chromatographic separation of the sample, the sample having a mass weight and a fluid volume, comprising:a loading column having a first packing material and a loading chamber having a first inner diameter and first length, the loading chamber being sized to contain a volume of a first packing material with a vertical absorptive profile, the loading chamber being sized to retain a selected volume of the first packing material to spatially distribute the sample within the loading chamber to load the sample prior to chromatographic separation of the sample, the length of the loading chamber being insufficient to achieve the selected chromatographic separation of the sample as the sample passes through the loading chamber; and a separation column having a second packing material and a separation chamber therein in fluid connection with the loading chamber and being positioned to receive the sample from the loading column, the separation chamber having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and having a second length greater that the first length, the separation chamber being sized to retain the second packing material, the second length of the separation chamber being sufficient to achieve the selected chromatographic separation of the sample as the sample passes therethrough, the separation chamber having a volume of the second packing material over a same length as the first length that is insufficient to act as a loading region for the entire selected sample.