Patent ID: 6491816
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: B01D,B01J,C40B,G01N

Abstract:
A liquid chromatography system useful for rapid separation or characterization of a plurality of samples, the system comprisingtwo or more chromatographic columns, two or more supply conduits providing continuous parallel fluid communication between a liquid mobile-phase source and the two or more chromatographic columns, respectively, the fluid communication being provided by each of the two or more supply conduits through one or more flow restrictors, an injection system, comprising an injector and a multi-port switching valve, for serially and distributively injecting a plurality of samples into a liquid mobile phase supplied in parallel to the two or more chromatographic columns, the injector having a sample-loading port for serially receiving a plurality of samples and having a sample-discharge port for discharging the plurality of samples under pressure to the switching valve, the switching valve having an inlet port and two or more selectable outlet ports, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the sample-discharge port of the injector and being in selectable fluid communication with the two or more selectable outlet ports, the two or more selectable outlet ports being in fluid communication with the two or more chromatographic columns, respectively, such that the plurality of samples can be serially and distributively injected into the mobile phase of the two or more chromatographic columns.