Patent ID: 7686959

Claim:
A method of separating compounds in a sample using a column chromatography system, the method comprising: receiving data input sufficient for determining; at least two retention factors (R f ) corresponding to a primary compound and a secondary compound exposed to an initial solvent system; and a proportion of each solvent in the initial solvent system; generating a solvent ratio profile based on the received inputs including; a starting point corresponding to a starting solvent ratio; an ending point corresponding to an ending solvent ratio; and a transitional phase during which the solvent ratio increases from the starting solvent ratio to the ending solvent ratio; and introducing separation solvent system having the starting solvent ratio at a solvent flow rate into an upstream end of a chromatography column having a column volume; introducing a sample including the primary compound and the secondary compound into an upstream end of a chromatography column; varying the solvent ratio of the separation solvent system being introduced into the upstream end of the chromatography column in accord with the solvent ratio profile; and carrying at least the primary compound to a downstream end of the chromatography column.