Patent ID: 6843918

Claim:
A process for separating at least two compounds of a fluid to be chromatographed, comprising the step of A) providing a chromatography device comprising a column intended to house, between its two ends, a chromatographic bed and a fluid to be chromatographed, a fluid layer being defined between a surface of the bed and one of the ends of the column; a piston sliding in the column, the piston being one of the ends of the column; at least a first probe for detecting the surface of the bed, the probe being mounted on the end of the column defining the layer; and means for adjusting the position of the piston according to the detection of the surface of the bed by the probe, flowing the liquid to be chromatographed through the bed; and collecting the chromatography fluid; B) providing a chromatography device as in A), the piston being the end defining the layer, flowing the fluid to be chromatographed through the bed; raising of the piston when the probe detects the surface of the bed; lowering of the piston when the probe no longer detects the surface of the bed; and collecting the chromatographed fluid; C) providing a chromatography device as in A), the piston being the lower end of the column, flowing the liquid to be chromatographed through the bed; lowering of the piston when the probe detects the surface of the bed; raising of the piston when the probe no longer detects the surface of the bed; and collecting the chromatographed fluid; D) providing a chromatography device as in A), the piston being the end defining the layer, and the device further comprising a second probe for detecting the surface of the bed, the second probe being mounted on the end of the column defining the layer; flowing the liquid to be chromatographed through the bed; raising of the piston when the probes detect the surface of the bed; lowering of the piston when neither probe detects the surface of the bed; and collecting the chromatographed fluid; or E) providing a chromatography device as in A), the piston being the lower end of the column, and the device further comprising a second probe for detecting the surface of the bed, the second probe being mounted on the end of the column defining the layer; flowing the fluid to be chromatographed through the bed; lowering of the piston when the probes detect the surface of the bed; raising of the piston when the probes detect the surface of the bed; and collecting the chromatociraphed fluid.