Patent GB-956016-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in centrifugal chromatography
IPC: G01N30/38
Filed: 1961-08-18
Abstract: 956,016. Centrifugal chromatography. MALVERN INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHIATRIC & ALCOHOLIC STUDIES. Aug. 18, 1961 [Dec. 21, 1960], No. 29891/61. Heading B1X. A chromatographic separating device includes a rotating mechanism having an axis of rotation and supporting a rotor bearing a channel which extends radially to the said rotating mechanism and has lateral defining walls, a separating medium positioned in the channel, and a device to supply developing liquid to the separating medium at a radially inner part thereof. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a disc 20 is mounted on a shaft 21 turned on a vertical axis by a motor whose shaft mounts on adapter 23 secured to the disc 20. Above the stub shaft portion 26 the adapter has an extension 28 and threaded end-portion 30, which have a central opening 31 to receive development liquid from a controllable feed device 32. The central opening 31 communicates with a plurality of radially extending parts 33 leading to a distributer cup 35 and to parts 41 aligned with the centre of the inner end of radially extending channels 42 in the disc 20. Each of the channels communicates at the outer end thereof by part 54 with collecting cup 55. The upwardly extending side walls 45 of the said channels hold in place radially extending strips 46 of separation medium. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 7, the bottom of the channel 42 is cut away to form radially extending recesses 52<SP>1</SP> supported by projections or ribs 53. As shown in Fig. 5, the separating medium may be in the form of a wheel having a hub 47 and spoke-like strips 46, and a removable outer rim may be provided for support before use. On both sides of the hub 47 are placed washers 50 and 51 of a fibrous dispersing medium which acts as a wick to distribute the development liquid. Alternatively the spokes may be separate units and may be of different materials. Where all channels are discharging development liquid of the same composition, a collector ring may surround the outside of the disc, or as shown in Fig. 12 where fractions may be of different compositions a succession of collector rings 55<SP>1</SP>, 55<SP>2</SP>, 55<SP>3</SP>, &c., may be progressively moved into position. The disc need not be flat, but may be coneshaped, convex or concave. Controllable capillary feeding of the development liquid directly to the radial inner end of each channel can be employed, as for example in Figs. 13 and 14 in which a paper hub 47<SP>1</SP> receives the development liquid from cup 56 having feeding openings 56<SP>1</SP> extending radially in line with the channels, and by capillarity deposits it at an apex 57 overlapping the inner end of the paper strip 46 in each channel. In another embodiment the rotor is not channelled but supports a continuous disc of separating medium having radially extending ribs impregnated therein, such ribs being impervious to development liquid and thus forming radial channels. As shown in Fig. 21, there may be a series of individually separate channels 42<SP>1</SP> suitably mounted on shaft 21, each channel having near its radially inner end a reservoir 77 which has a radially outwardly extending discharge opening 78 to the channel 42<SP>1</SP>. The reservoir has suitably at the bottom thereof a fibre glass or other filter 80, and is covered with a cover 81 having an air bleed opening 82. The channel at the outer end thereof has a receiver 83 which is hinged and which under centrifugal action can swing out to a radial outer position as shown.