Patent ID: 7628922

Claim:
A method for fractionating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using a test solution in which a sample containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is dissolved in a solvent, a plurality of eluents to be a mobile phase for the test solution and different from the solvent and different in polarity from each other, and a column packed with a packing material, wherein the method comprises: supplying a first eluent to the column and eluting contaminants in the test solution that are low in polarity; mixing gradually a second eluent which is higher in polarity than the first eluent while reducing flow of the first eluent; controlling an eluent ratio of the first and second eluents in a gradient mixer and distribution in a fraction collector, by a controller; controlling the fraction collector to fractionate eluted solution by the controller, when controlling the eluent ratio of the second eluent and the first eluent in the gradient mixer to a predetermined ratio; and separating the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.