Patent ID: 8607620

Claim:
A preparative separation/purification system in which a solution containing a target component is passed through a trap column to capture the target component in the trap column and then a solvent having an elution capability is passed through the trap column to elute the target component from the trap column and collect the target component, which is characterized by comprising: a) a column-holding means for holding the trap column so that an internal passage of the trap column vertically extends with an inlet end thereof directed downwards and a discharge end thereof directed upwards; and b) a liquid supply means for supplying a second solvent at a predetermined flow velocity to the inlet end of the trap column, with the target component captured in the trap column held by the column-holding means, the second solvent having a specific gravity greater than a specific gravity of a first solvent remaining in the trap column and having a low solubility to the first solvent, where the first solvent is removed from the trap column by disposing of the first solvent extruded from the discharge end of the trap column by being pushed by the second solvent supplied to the trap column by the liquid supply means; c) a passage selection means for changing a passage configuration so that a solution exiting from the discharge end of the trap column is selectively sent to either a collection passage leading to a collection container or a disposal passage leading to a disposal port; and d) a control means for controlling the passage selection means so that the first solvent extruded from the discharge end of the trap column by the second solvent is sent to the disposal port according to the action of supplying the second solvent to the trap column by the liquid supply means, while the solution exiting from the discharge end of the trap column with the target component contained therein is sent to the collection passage when the second solvent or a third solvent having a capability of eluting the target component from the trap column is supplied to the trap column wherein the control means controls the passage selection means so that the eluate exiting from the trap column is sent to the disposal passage at least until a calculated period of time required for the first solvent to be completely discharged from the trap column elapses, and the eluate exiting from the trap column is sent to the collection passage after the calculated period of time has elapsed, the period of time being calculated from an internal volume of the trap column and a flow rate of the second solvent supplied by the liquid supply means.