Patent ID: 6576137
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B01D,B01J

Abstract:
A method for separating a plurality of components contained in a first mobile phase comprising a liquid solution of said components by contacting a solid phase packing material with the first mobile phase, so that the components are adsorbed by the solid phase material, and subsequently contacting the solid phase with at least a second and third mobile phase in sequence, each of the second and third mobile phases comprising a liquid eluent of predetermined composition such that at least two of the components are separately desorbed from the solid phase by the second and third mobile phases, and wherein the solid phase is contained and in contact with the wall of a cell having an inlet on one side of the solid phase packing material and an outlet on another side of the solid phase packing material; by starting with said first mobile phase material until the solid phase is loaded with the components of the first mobile phase, the method comprising:(a) intermittently delivering predetermined amounts of said first mobile phase material to the inlet of the cell; (b) intermittently supplying pressurized gas to the cell on the one side of the solid phase packing material following each delivery of said first mobile phase to the inlet of the cell in step (a) for increasing the flow rate of the mobile phase through the solid phase packing material; (c) maintaining a vacuum on the other side of the solid phase packing material so as to maintain the solid phase packing material in a semi-dry state during steps (a) and (b); (d) intermittently collecting a remaining portion of each delivered amount of said first mobile phase from the outlet of the cell after passage through the solid phase packing material; after the predetermined amounts of said first mobile phase material are intermittently delivered,(e) intermittently delivering predetermined amounts of said second mobile phase material to the inlet of the cells; (f) intermittently supplying pressurized gas to the cell on the one side of the solid phase packing material following each delivery of said second mobile phase to the inlet of the cell in step (e) for increasing the flow rate of the mobile phase through the solid phase packing material; (g) maintaining a vacuum on the other side of the solid phase packing material so as to maintain the solid phase packing material in a semi-dry state during steps (e) and (f); (h) intermittently collecting a remaining portion of each delivered amount of said second mobile phase from the outlet of the cell after passage through the solid phase packing material; after the predetermined amounts of said second mobile phase material are intermittently delivered, then;(i) intermittently delivering predetermined amounts of said third mobile phase material to the inlet of the cell; (j) intermittently supplying pressurized gas to the cell on the one side of the solid phase packing material followings each delivery of said third mobile phase to the inlet of the cell in step (i) for increasing the flow rate of the mobile phase through the solid phase packing material; (k) maintaining a vacuum on the other side of the solid phase packing material so as to maintain the solid phase packing material in a semi-dry state during steps (i) and (j); (l) intermittently collecting a remaining portion of each delivered amount of said third mobile phase from the outlet of the cell after passage through the solid phase packing material.