Patent ID: 7799527

Claim:
A method of selecting at least one treatment for a desired synthesized polymer species, comprising the automated steps of: (a) providing a separation record for a polymer product comprising a desired synthesized polymer species, wherein said separation record comprises a baseline and at least one peak representing said desired synthesized polymer species; (b) producing a baseline-evaluated separation record by evaluating said baseline and optionally adjusting said baseline; (c) identifying, in said baseline-evaluated separation record, at least one peak representing said desired synthesized polymer species; (d) determining a quality metric for said desired synthesized polymer species based on a plurality of parameters of said baseline-evaluated separation record, said parameters comprising signal-to-noise ratio of said at least one peak of said baseline-evaluated separation record and retention of said at least one peak of said baseline-evaluated separation record; (e) determining a coupling efficiency of the synthesis reaction of said desired synthesized polymer species; and (f) evaluating the quality of said desired synthesized polymer species based on said quality metric and said coupling efficiency, and selecting at least one treatment for said desired synthesized polymer species from a plurality of alternative treatments based on the value of said quality metric or said coupling efficiency.