Radial thin layer chromatography

• US 4,865,729 A
• Filed: 05/27/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sepragen Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sepragen Corporation
• Inventors: Andresen, Brian D., Saxena, Vinit
• Primary Examiner(s): Therkorn, Ernest G.
• Application Number:
  US07/199,469
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 210/658, 210/198.2, 210/198.3, 422/70, 436/162
• US Class Current: 210/198.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/14 relating to the introduction of the feed to the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/1807 using counter-currents, e.g. fluidised beds
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/386 Radial chromatography, i.e. with mobile phase traversing radially the stationary phase
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/522 pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/38 Flow patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6004 end pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/92 Construction of the plate
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/94 Development

Abstract

An improved liquid chromatography column having a horizontal flow of the liquid through the separating medium utilizing an improved fluid distribution system is disclosed. The improved fluid distribution system includes a screen or mesh arrangement, and a thin layer, plate or wafer-like separation medium. The screen or mesh type distribution system enables uniform distribution of the sample or eluting fluid radially over 360° around the periphery of the separating medium bed, thus eliminating the high machining costs and other problems associated with systems employing grooves or passageways type distribution systems. The improved column as a whole may be fabricated so as to be disposable or may be constructed to have an even more simplified fluid distribution arrangement.

Claims

1. A chromatography column utilizing horizontal flow of sample material passing therethrough, comprising:

a housing having a chamber therein and having a centrally located sample material inlet and a centrally located material component outlet,

separation medium retained in said housing chamber, and

fluid distribution means within said housing for directing sample material injected into a central section of said housing in a substantially uniform, radially outward direction from said central section to an outer section of said housing and onto an outer surface area of said separation medium,

said fluid distribution means including a porous member, and a retainer member located intermediate said porous member and said separation medium except at an area adjacent said outer surface area of said separation medium,

whereby sample material passes inwardly horizontally through said separation medium from said outer surface area, and material components discharging from said separation medium are directed into said centrally located material component outlet.

2. The column of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a pair of end caps, and means for securing said end caps together, said fluid distribution means being located in one of said end caps.

3. The column of claim 2, wherein said separation medium is constructed as a thin matrix.

4. The column of claim 3, wherein said thin matrix of separation medium has an outer area peripherally secured between said end caps.

5. The column of claim 3, wherein said one of said pair of end caps is provided with a countersink section, said sample material inlet being in fluid communication with said countersink section, said fluid distribution means being positioned in said countersink section, and said material component outlet being located in another of said pair of caps.

6. The column of claim 5, wherein said porous member of said fluid distribution means is selected from the group consisting of screen material, mesh material and ceramic material.

7. The column of claim 6, wherein an outer periphery of said retainer member of said fluid distribution means is positioned in spaced apart relationship with a surface of said one of said pair of end caps which defines a side wall of said countersink section so as to define a passageway therebetween, and means for maintaining the spaced apart relationship.

8. The column of claim 7, wherein said means for maintaining the spaced apart relationship between said retainer member and said one of said pair of end caps comprises a plurality of spacer means selected from the group consisting of balls and shims.

9. The column of claim 7, wherein said retainer member includes a countersink section on one side thereof and an outer ring-like section, said ring-like section of said retainer member being in contact with said thin matrix of separation material.

10. The column of claim 9, wherein said thin matrix of separation material is constructed in the form of a wafer.

11. The column of claim 10, wherein said wafer is constructed to consist of a non-permeable support member and a layer of separation medium secured to said support member.

12. The column of claim 9, wherein said another of said pair of end caps includes a countersink section therein, said material component outlet being in fluid communication with said countersink section of said another end cap.

13. The column of claim 12, wherein said thin matrix of separation material includes a centrally located port into which sample material components pass, said port being in fluid communication with said material component outlet.

14. The column of claim 13, additionally including means connected to said material component outlet for directing sample material components entering said port in said thin matrix separation material from said housing to a point of use.

15. The column of claim 12, additionally including a filler member located in said countersink in each of said pair of end caps, and in contact with said thin matrix of separation medium.

16. The column of claim 1, wherein said separation medium consists of a packed bed of separation material retained in said chamber.

17. In a horizontal flow type chromatographic column having a housing containing a separation medium, and constructed to provide for horizontal flow of sample material through the separation medium, the improvement comprising:

a fluid distribution system for uniformly directing to said separation medium sample material entering said housing, said distribution system comprising,

a porous member and a retaining member, said retaining member being located intermediate said porous member and said separation medium,

said retaining member being constructed and located so as to uniformly direct sample material in a radially outward direction and prevent passage of sample material flowing onto said separation medium except at an outer peripheral surface area of said separation medium,

whereby sample material is directed horizontally inward through said separation medium.

18. The improvement of claim 17, wherein said housing is constructed to include a countersink section in one end thereof, and wherein the fluid distribution system is located in said countersink section of said housing.

19. The improvement of claim 18, wherein said porous member is selected from the group consisting of screen material, mesh material and ceramic material.

20. The improvement of claim 18, wherein said porous member is in abutment with a bottom surface of said countersink section of said housing, and wherein said retainer member is in spaced apart relationship with a side surface of said countersink section of said housing so as to form a fluid passageway therebetween.

21. The improvement of claim 20, additionally including means for maintaining said retaining member in spaced apart relationship with said surface of said countersink section of said housing.

22. The improvement of claim 21, wherein said means comprises a plurality of spaced members selected from the group consisting of balls and shims.

23. The improvement of claim 18, wherein said porous member comprises a screen, and wherein said housing is provided with a sample material inlet at substantially a central location of said countersink section of said housing, such that sample material entering said countersink section passes radially outwardly along said screen to an outer area surface of said separation medium.

24. The improvement of claim 17, wherein said retaining member is constructed so as to contact said separation medium only at a peripheral portion thereof.

25. A chromatography column containing separation medium and utilizing horizontal flow of sample material therethrough, comprising:

a housing forming a chamber therein, and having at least one inlet passage and a centrally located outlet passage, each connected at one end to said chamber,

a thin wafer containing said separation medium and retained in said chamber of said housing so as to separate said inlet and outlet passages, and

fluid distribution means within said chamber of said housing intermediate said inlet passage and said wafer for directing fluid in a substantially uniform manner about an outer periphery of said wafer said distribution means comprising a porous member and a retaining member, said retaining member being located intermediate said porous member and said separation medium,

whereby fluid passes from said inlet passage horizontally through said separation medium, and into said outlet passage.

26. The column of claim 25, wherein said fluid distribution system includes a member positioned within said chamber and having a longitudinal surface thereof intermediate said inlet passage and said wafer, said member being constructed and positioned so as to define a first space between said longitudinal surface thereof and said housing and a second space between a peripheral surface thereof and said housing.

27. The column of claim 26, additionally including spacer means located between said member and said housing for maintaining said first and second spaces therebetween.

28. The column of claim 26, additionally including a porous member positioned in said first space.

29. The column of claim 26, wherein said member includes a longitudinal surface in abutment with said wafer except at a peripheral surface thereof.

30. The column of claim 25, wherein said thin wafer containing separation medium consists of a layer of a non-permeable support material and a layer of separation medium secured to said layer of support material.

31. The column of claim 25, wherein said housing consists of a pair of sections, and wherein said wafer of separation material is retained intermediate said pair of sections of said housing.

32. The column of claim 31, wherein said pair of housing sections are removably connected to one another.