Patent ID: 6110362
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: B01J,G01N

Abstract:
Apparatus for separating relatively low molecular weight compounds from compounds having relatively high molecular weights substantially an order of magnitude greater or more than said low molecular weight compounds in a liquid mixture of said compounds, said apparatus comprising, in combination:a chromatographic body formed of a substantially uniformly distributed multiplicity of rigid, solid, porous particles with average diameters of not less than about 30 .mu.m, and average pore diameters sufficiently small to substantially exclude introduction of said compounds of relatively high molecular weight into said pores, the surfaces of said particles and pores being hydrophobic and chromatographically active;means for flowing said mixture at a velocity sufficient that the flow of said mixture within at least a substantial portion of the interstitial volume between said particles is at a reduced velocity greater than about 5,000, until said high molecular weight compounds have exited said body;means for eluting said relatively low molecular weight compounds from said body with an eluant liquid at a reduced velocity less than 5,000, after said high molecular weight compounds have exited said body; andmeans for recovering at the exit of said body the eluted relatively low molecular weight compounds separately from said relatively high molecular weight compounds.