Patent ID: 8613216
Filing Date: 2013-12-24
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for thermally focusing an analyte passing through a pre-column and a separation column for liquid chromatography, which method comprises the steps: operation of the pre-column, during an enrichment phase for enriching a sample in the pre-column, at a first temperature that is lower than ambient temperature and the operating temperature of the separation column and lower than 15° C.; heating the pre-column, after completion of the enrichment phase, to a second temperature that is higher than the operating temperature of the separation column and higher than 20° C.; eluting the analyte contained in the pre-column to the separation column; cooling of the sample to the operating temperature of the separation column; eluting the analyte contained in the separation column; and thermally desorbing non-eluted sample from the separation column by increasing the temperature to a temperature that is higher than the second temperature of the pre-column; wherein the ID of the pre-column is from 150% to 750% of the ID of the separating column.