Patent EA-001580-B1 (EA)
Title: Annular chromatograph
Inventor: PRIOR ADALBERT
IPC: G01N30/06
Filed: 1998-12-09
Abstract: 1. Annular chromatograph with a particle bed in its annular gap, characterised in that at least one reaction zone (1, 4) for chemical reactions with at least one associated separation zone (2, 3) for the chromatographic separation is provided. 2. Annular chromatograph according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one reaction zone (1, 4) is arranged upstream of at least one separation zone (2, 3) for the separation and/or purification of at least one of the reaction products generated in the at last one reaction zone (1, 4). 3. Annular chromatograph according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one separation zone (2, 3) is arranged upstream of at least one reaction zone (1, 4) for prepurification of at least one of the starting materials for the chemical reaction(s) taking place in the at least one reaction zone (1, 4). 4. Annular chromatograph according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the material for the separation zone(s) (2, 3) is selected from anion-exchange resins, cation-exchange resins, exclusion gels, gel-permeation gels, affinity gels, hydrophobic chromatography (HIC) gels, displacement resins, reversed-phase gels, and electrophoresis gels. 5. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material for the reaction zones (1, 4) is selected from the same materials as the separation zone(s) (2, 3) as well as from material inert toward the reactions taking place in the reaction zones, e.g., glass beads or active carbon. 6. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material for the at least one reaction zone is impregnated or coated with reaction catalyst as for instance metals, metal complexes, or enzymes. 7. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material for the at least one reaction zone is coated with at least one reactant. 8. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that all zones (1, 2, 3, 4) are separated in space by dividing layers (5). 9. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one dividing layer (5) is selected from membranes, nonporous inert particle material, and electrically nonconducting material, preferably glass beads. 10. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the particle bed is covered with a covering layer (6) and/or supported by a foundation layer (7), where the covering layer and foundation layer (6, 7) preferably consist of the same material as the dividing layer(s) (5). 11. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that over at least part of the height of the particle bed the inner cylinder (8) and/or the outer cylinder (9) of the reactor is/are so designed to approach the other, preferably in a conical or curved shape, in order to raise the flow rate in the particle bed. 12. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that over at least part of the height of the particle bed the inner cylinder (8) and/or the outer cylinder (9) of the reactor is/are so designed to depart from the other, preferably in conical or curved shape, in order to lower the flow rate in the particle bed. 13. Annular chromatograph according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the inner cylinder (8) and/or the outer cylinder (9) of the reactor in the lower terminal section of at least one reaction zone (1, 4) is/are so designed as to approach the other, preferably conically. 14. Annular chromatograph according to one of the claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the inner cylinder (8) and/or the outer cylinder (9) of the reactor in the region of at least one separation zone (2, 3) is/are so designed to recede from the other, preferably conically. 15. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the perimeter of at least one zone (1, 2, 3, 4) at the inner and/or outer cylinder (8, 9) a temperature control jacket (10) is provided. 16. Annular chromatograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the perimeter of at least one zone (1, 2, 3, 4) at the inner and/or outer cylinder (8, 9) a source of radiation (11) is provided as heat source and/or as reaction catalyst or initiator