Patent ID: 7517698

Claim:
Installation for the automatic preparation of specimens, particularly of concentrates of organic compounds dissolved in a liquid phase, for line analysis in a suitable measuring system such as a UV spectrometer, an infrared device, a fluorimeter, a mass spectrometer or the like, this installation comprising a) a device for receiving a liquid specimen, b) a distribution device comprising a valve ( 1 ) capable of selecting either the specimen, or one of the different solvents or reagents needed for a liquid/solid extraction process, c) a low pressure pump ( 2 ) receiving the output of the distribution device and permitting supplying at the selected flow rate a liquid/solid extraction device, d) a liquid/solid extraction device comprising several columns ( 3 ) each comprising at least one adsorbent phase, the extraction device comprising, on opposite sides of the columns ( 3 ), a valve ( 4 ) controllable to switch one column ( 3 ) to another to place in action a column ( 3 ) adapted to ensure the extraction operation when another column ( 3 ) is in a non-working condition, each switching valve ( 4 ) being connected to a common direction reversing valve ( 5 ) interposed between the pump ( 2 ) and the switching valves ( 4 ), this controllable direction reversing valve ( 5 ) being disposed downstream of said pump ( 2 ) and upstream of both of said switching valves ( 4 ) being arranged to impose as a function of the position of the controllable direction reversing valve ( 5 ) a direction of circulation of fluid that has not passed through any of said columns ( 3 ), in a first circulation direction within any one of the columns ( 3 ) of the extraction device or of fluid that has not passed through any of said columns ( 3 ), in a second countercurrent direction within any one of the columns ( 3 ) of the extraction device and to ensure its return to said valve ( 5 ) to distribute the treated fluid toward a selective circuit either for discard, or for analysis.