Patent ID: 7132053

Claim:
A process for separating at least two compounds in a first fluid, said process comprising subjecting said fluid to chromatography in a chromatographic device, by: flowing said first fluid through a column ( 12 ) containing a chromatographic bed ( 14 ), exerting a pressure on the bed ( 14 ) by a piston ( 36 ) sliding in the column ( 12 ), exerting a pressure on the piston ( 36 ), by a chamber ( 28 ) containing a second fluid, regulating the pressure exerted by the piston ( 36 ) on the bed ( 14 ) as a function of the pressure in the chamber ( 28 ), the flow pressure of the first fluid at the inlet to the column ( 12 ) and a set-point pressure on the bed ( 14 ), the regulation of the pressure exerted by the piston on the bed comprising the reduction of the pressure in the chamber if the pressure on the bed is greater than the set point pressure on the bed and collecting the first fluid chromatographed.