APPARATUS FOR SAMPLE APPLICATION IN THIN LAYER AND PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY

• US 3,766,884 A
• Filed: 06/28/1971
• Issued: 10/23/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur Rosenthal
• Original Assignee: Arthur Rosenthal
• Inventors: Rosenthal, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Morris
• Application Number:
  US05/157,117
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 118/63,58,401,506,300 73/61.1C 23/253R 33/34
• US Class Current: 118/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/91 Application of the sample

Abstract

An apparatus for producing spots of specimens of material on a plate having a thin layer adsorbing surface, the specimens being dissolved in a diluting solvent for chromatographic analysis, with a plurality of units, each one of the units comprising a glass tube which is filled with a specimen through a funnel-like glass filling tube projecting perpendicularly from the upper surface of the specimen tube, the latter also having an open front and which is stoppered or otherwise covered by a teflon or other inert plug through which passes a capillary tube, the capillary tube having a bent front end protruding from the open front end of the glass tube so that the end of the capillary is very close to the adsorbing surface of the plate, and an air tube above the front end of the capillary which may be adjustably set to blow a low-pressure air stream onto the specimen emanating from the capillary to evaporate the solvent, thereby forming a spot of the specimen on the thin-layer adsorbing surface of the plate.

Claims

1. A spot applicator unit for thin layer and paper chromatography, which comprises a. reservoir means for holding a measured amount of a liquid sample, said reservoir means having inlet means for filling said reservoir means and capillary tube outlet means for siphoning said measured amount of liquid sample out of said reservoir means, said capillary tube outlet means having a discharge end outside the reservoir means and below the level of a liquid sample in said reservoir means;

b. air supply means for flowing a stream of low pressure air to evaporate solvent from said liquid sample siphoned out of said reservoir means; and

c. support means for supporting said reservoir means and said air supply means with said air supply meAns arranged to flow air over a liquid sample discharged from said discharge end, said support means including adusting means for adjusting the position of said air supply means relative to said discharge end of said capillary outlet means thereby to control the rate of evaporation of solvent from said liquid sample siphoned out of said reservoir means.

2. The applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein said air supply means has a flared outlet end positioned adjacent said discharge end, the position of said flared outlet end being adjustable by said adjusting means.

3. The applicator unit according to claim 2, wherein said reservoir means has an elongated body portion, and said capillary outlet means comprises a capillary tube having a first part thereof inside said elongated body portion and in communication with a liquid sample in said elongated body portion, and said discharge end being provided by a second part of the capillary tube positioned outside of said body portion and arranged transverse to said elongated body portion.

4. The applicator unit according to claim 3, wherein said second part of said capillary tube is substantially perpendicular to said elongated body portion.

5. The applicator unit according to claim 3, wherein said first part of said capillary tube is of stainless steel and said second part is of an insert plastic secured to said first part.

6. The applicator unit according to claim 3, wherein said capillary tube is removably mounted in said elongated body portion.

7. The applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein said air supply means comprises air flow control means.

8. The applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein said air supply means comprises means for supplying heated air.

9. The applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein said capillary tube outlet means comprises a capillary tube having a first part inside the reservoir means and extending to the lowest part of said reservoir means and a second part outside the reservoir means and extending below the level of said lowest part of said reservoir means, said capillary tube outlet means being thus operable to siphon out the entire content of liquid sample in said reservoir.

10. The applicator unit according to claim 3. wherein said inlet means for filling said reservoir is provided by a vertical funnel-like tube projecting upwardly from said elongated body portion;

and plug means are provided in one end of said elongated body portion, said capillary tube passing through said plug means.

11. Apparatus for analysis of multiple samples by thin layer and paper chromatography, which comprises A) a base for supporting a chromatographic paper or plate;

B) a plurality of spot applicator units mounted in side-by-side relationship on said base, each spot applicator unit comprising a. reservoir means for holding a measured amount of a liquid sample, said reservoir means having inlet means for filling said reservoir means and capillary tube outlet means for siphoning said measured amount of liquid sample out of said reservoir means and onto a paper or plate on said base, said capillary tube outlet means having a discharge end outside the reservoir means and below the level of a liquid sample in said reservoir means;

b. air supply means for flowing a stream of low pressure air to evaporate solvent from said liquid sample siphoned out of said reservoir means and onto a paper or plate on said base; and

c. support means for supporting said reservoir means and said air supply means with said air supply means arranged to flow air over a liquid sample discharged from said discharge end, said support means including adjusting means for adjusting the position of said air supply means relative to said discharge end of said capillary outlet means thereby to control the rate of evaporation of solvent from said liquid sample siphoned out of said reservoir means; and

C) the support means of said applicator units being mounted in spaced realtionshIp on said base.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said air supply means has a portion extending substantially vertically, said vertical portion having a flared outlet end positioned adjacent said discharge end, the position of said flared outlet end being adjustable by said adjusting means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said reservoir means has an elongated body portion slightly inclined to the horizontal, and said capillary outlet means comprises a capillary tube having a first part thereof inside said elongated body pprtion and in communication with a liquid sample in said elongated body portion, and said discharge end being provided by a second part of the capillary tube positioned outside of said body portion and extending downwardly.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second part of said capillary tube is substantially perpendicular to said elongated body portion.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first part of said capillary tube is of stainless steel and said second part is of an inert plastic secured to said first part.

16. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said capillary tube is removably mounted in said elongated body portion.

17. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said posts are spaced apart from one another at regular intervals in a straight line.

18. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said adjusting means comprises a ball and socket universal joint.

19. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said air supply means comprises an air tube for each unit, an air manifold, flexible air hoses connecting said air tubes to said manifold, and air flow control means on said air hoses.

20. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said air flow control means consists of screw clamps.

21. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said air supply means comprise means to heat said manifold.

22. Apparatus according to claim 11, including and means to heat said base.

23. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said capillary tube outlet means comprises a capillary tube having a first part inside the reservoir means and extending to the lowest part of said reservoir means and a second part outside the reservoir means and extending below the level of said lowest part of said reservoir means, said capillary tube outlet means being thus operable to siphon out the entire content of liquid sample in said reservoir.

24. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said inlet means for filling said reservoir is provided by a vertical funnel-like tube projecting upwardly from said elongated body portion;

and plug means are provided in one end of said elongated body portion, said capillary tube passing through said plug means.