Separation system, components of a separation system and methods of making and using them
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Accused Products
Abstract
Permeable polymeric monolithic materials are prepared in a column casing. In one embodiment, the permeable polymeric monolithic materials are polymerized while pressure is applied through a piston having a smooth piston head in contact with the polymerization mixture. The pressure eliminates wall effect and changes the structure in the column. Similarly, some columns that have a tendency to swell in the presence of aqueous solutions and pressurized while the solution is applied to prevent swelling and wall effect. This procedure also changes the structure in the column. The size of the separation effective openings can be controlled by the amount of the pressure and pores eliminated. Uniformity in the direction flow is improved by controlling polymerization with radiation rather than with conducted heat.
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Citations
106 Claims
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1-18. -18. (canceled)
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19. A method of performing chromatography comprising the steps of:
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applying a sample to a chromatographic column having column casing and a size compensated polymer monolithic packing; and
supplying a solvent to the chromatographic column, whereby the sample is separated into its components within the chromatographic column.
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20-30. -30. (canceled)
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31. A chromatographic column comprising:
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a chromatographic column support having internal column walls;
a monolithic permeable plug in said column walls;
said permeable monolithic polymeric plug being a polymer having separation-effective openings of a controlled size formed in the polymer by a porogen in the polymerization mixture before polymerization and controlled in size at least partly by pressure during polymerization. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41)
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37-38. -38. (canceled)
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40. (canceled)
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42-44. -44. (canceled)
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45. A weak ion exchange chromatographic column comprising:
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a chromatographic column support having internal column walls;
a permeable monolithic polymeric plug in said column walls;
said permeable monolithic polymeric plug being formed principally of methacrylate polymer and having smooth walls.
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46. A weak ion exchange chromatographic column comprising:
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a chromatographic column support having internal column walls;
a permeable monolithic polymeric plug in said column walls;
said permeable monolithic polymeric plug being formed principally of polymers of glycidyl methacrylate and of ethylene dimethacrylate in a ratio by weight in the range of from 1 to 1 and 2 to 1.
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47. (canceled)
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48. A chromatographic column comprising:
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a chromatographic column support having internal column walls;
a permeable monolithic polymeric plug in said column walls;
said permeable monolithic polymeric plug being formed principally of a mixture of divinylbenzene and styrene and having smooth walls.
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49-58. -58. (canceled)
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59. Apparatus for making a chromatographic column comprising:
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a temperature controlled reaction chamber adapted to contain a polymerization mixture during polymerization; and
means for applying pressure to said polymerization mixture in said temperature controlled reaction chamber. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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60. (canceled)
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63. Apparatus for making a chromatographic column comprising:
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a temperature controlled reaction chamber adapted to contain a polymerization mixture during polymerization to form a plug;
aqueous processing means for applying an aqueous solution to the plug;
means for applying pressure to said plug to reduce voids in the plug.
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64. A method of making a monolithic chromatographic column comprising the steps of:
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preparing a polymerization mixture;
performing polymerization under pressure, whereby sufficient pressure is applied to prevent voids from being formed caused by vacuum due to shrinkage during polymerization. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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67. A method of making a monolithic chromatographic column comprising the steps of:
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adding a polymerization mixture containing a porogen to a closed container;
polymerizing the mixture under pressure to form a polymer plug, whereby sufficient pressure is applied to prevent voids from being formed caused by vacuum due to shrinkage during polymerization; and
washing the polymer plug to remove the porogen.
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68. A method of making a monolithic chromatographic column comprising the steps of:
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preparing a polymerization mixture including a porogen;
performing polymerization to form a polymer plug;
washing the polymer plug to remove the porogen, wherein the plug tends to swell; and
applying pressure to prevent swelling of the polymer plug and eliminate voids.
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69. A method of making a monolithic permeable device for separating the components of a sample, comprising the steps of:
preparing a polymerization mixture including a monomer and a porogen wherein the porogen includes a mixture of alcohols.
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70-93. -93. (canceled)
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94. A method of controlling polymerization of a porous medium comprising the steps of:
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establishing a polymerization mixture including a porogen;
controlling the rate of the polymerization with radiation and at least one substance that is caused by the radiation to affect the polymerization.
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95-100. -100. (canceled)
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101. A method of making a monolithic permeable device for separating the components of a sample, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a polymerization mixture including a monomer, a porogen and at least one radiation sensitive substance;
said radiation sensitive substance comprising one or more substances selected from a group consisting of photo initiators, x-ray sensitizers and scintillators; and
irradiating the polymerization mixture.
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102. A method of making a monolithic permeable plug, said method comprising polymerizing a mixture to form a solid support containing at least one monomer and a porogen comprising the step of irradiating the mixture with X rays.
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103-104. -104. (canceled)
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105. An apparatus for polymerizing chromatographic columns comprising:
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a temperature controlled reaction chamber adapted to contain a polymerization mixture during polymerization to form a monolithic permeable plug;
radiation means for applying radiation to the plug; and
control means for controlling the radiation. - View Dependent Claims (106)
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Specification