AUTOMATED CONVERSION BETWEEN SFC AND HPLC

• US 20130048095A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aurora SFC Systems (Will Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Shanghai)
• Inventors: WIKFORS, Edwin E., FOGELMAN, Kimber D., BERGER, Terry A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,163,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/7
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/40 using supercritical fluid as mobile phase or eluent
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 11/0075 connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/06 the pumps being all of reciprocating positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/326 pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/342 fluid composition fixed during analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/32 of pressure or speed G01N30/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/34 of fluid composition, e.g. gradient G01N30/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0352 Controlled by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7722 Line condition change responsive valves

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and process of converting a standard, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) flow path to a flow path suitable for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) are described. This reversible technique is applied to a variety of flow configurations including binary, high pressure solvent mixing systems and quaternary, low pressure solvent mixing systems than can be conventionally operated or automated. The technique is generally applied to the fields of supercritical fluid chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography, but users skilled in the art will find utility for any flow system where pressurization components must be periodically applied to and removed from both ends of a flow stream in an automated manner.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a fluidic switch that provides at least two positions where each position creates one primary and at least one secondary flow path configuration; and

a back pressure regulation module,

wherein the switch can be moved to a first position to select a first primary flow path configuration which enables a liquid chromatographic mode and to a second position to select a second primary flow path configuration which enables a supercritical fluid chromatographic mode, and

the back pressure regulation module communicates with the at least one secondary flow path when the liquid chromatographic mode is selected and with the primary flow path when the supercritical fluid chromatographic mode is selected.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a flow enabling module for compressible fluids, wherein the switch provides the capability to maintain fluidic communication between said flow enabling module and said backpressure regulation module in both first and second said switch positions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said flow enabling module is a CO2 metering pump.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said flow enabling module is a CO2 booster pump.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

an HPLC pump and a collection of HPLC modules modified as necessary for dual use within either a compressible fluid flow system or a liquid flow system, wherein said HPLC pump and modules remain in the primary flow path configuration in both the first and second positions of said switch.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said HPLC pump is a high pressure positive displacement pump.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said high pressure positive displacement pump is one of a quaternary pump module, an isocratic pump module, or one unit of a binary pump module.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one pump in each primary flow path configuration is capable of rinsing the flow path with a mobile phase compatible with both chromatographic modes of operation.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and the second primary flow path configurations each terminate through a mass spectrometer.

10. A system, comprising:

a liquid chromatography (LC) system of modules; and

a collection of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) modules, connected to the LC system of modules, the modules including;

a fluidic switch,

a back pressure regulator, and

a pump for compressible fluids,

wherein the switch can be selectively positioned to convert a flowpath between an LC system mode of operation and an SFC system mode of operation, and

fluidic communication is maintained between the said pump and said backpressure regulator module in both said modes of operation.

11. The system in claim 10, wherein the LC system modules are modified as necessary for dual use within either a compressible fluid flow system or a liquid flow system and are included in the flow path of each mode of operation.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one pump in each mode of operation is capable of rinsing the flow path with a mobile phase compatible with both chromatographic modes of operation.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the LC system of modules further comprises:

a mass spectrometer, wherein each mode of operation is fluidically connected to said mass spectrometer.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the LC system of modules includes a high performance liquid chromatography system of modules.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the LC system of modules includes an ultra high performance liquid chromatography system of modules.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the LC system of modules includes modules capable of operating within system pressures up to 600 bar.

17. A process, comprising:

selectively switching between a liquid chromatography (LC) flow path and an SFC flow path comprising an LC pump, chromatographic system components, an upstream LC solvent source, an SFC compressible fluid mobile phase source, and SFC system components; and

converting a flowpath, between an LC mode of operation to an SFC mode of operation,

wherein fluidic communication is maintained between the SFC compressible fluid phase source and a back pressure regulator comprised within said SFC system components.

18. The process of claim 17, further comprising:

rinsing a flowpath to a state compatible with both modes of operation from either mode of operation.

19. The process of claim 17, further comprising:

directing flow of each mode of operation to a mass spectrometer.

20. The process of claim 17, wherein the step of selectively switching the LC flow path comprises selectively switching a high performance liquid chromatography flow path or an ultra high performance liquid chromatography flow path.