Apparatus for parallel high-performance liquid chromatography with serial injection

• US 6,491,816 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freeslate Inc. (Unchained Labs Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symyx Technologies Incorporated (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Inventors: Petro, Miroslav
• Primary Examiner(s): Therkorn, Ernest G.
• Application Number:
  US09/956,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20020020670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 210/635, 210/656, 210/659, 210/143, 210/198.2, 422/70, 436/161, 73/615.2
• US Class Current: 506/43
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/1885 placed in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/24 relating to the treatment of the fractions to be distributed
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00452 Means for the recovery of reactants or products
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00707 separated from the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00759 Purification of compounds synthesised
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/14 Libraries containing macromolecular compounds and not covered by groups C40B40/06 - C40B40/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/027 Liquid chromatography
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/324 speed, flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/625 by measuring reference material, e.g. carrier without sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/628 Multiplexing, i.e. several columns sharing a single detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/8429 adding modificating material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/8813 biological materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/884 organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/885 involving polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/8859 inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/16 Injection G01N30/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/24 Automatic injection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/30 : of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/461 : with serial coupling of separation columns
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/466 : with separation columns in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/84 : Preparation of the fraction to be distributed
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/88 : Integrated analysis systems specially adapted therefor, not covered by a single one of the groups G01N30/04 - G01N30/86
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/44 : Resins; Plastics; Rubber; Leather
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/442 : Resins; Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/085 : Flow Injection Analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1097 : characterised by the valves valves in general F16K

Abstract

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods and systems are disclosed that combine sequential, serial injection of a plurality of samples into mobile-phases supplied in parallel to two or more chromatographic columns, such that staggered, parallel separation of the plurality of samples is effected. Because injection of samples is relatively fast as compared to separation, substantial efficiencies are gained with respect to overall sample throughput. The disclosed HPLC methods and systems are preferably applied in connection with combinatorial chemistry, combinatorial material science and more particularly, combinatorial synthesis and screening of polymeric materials.

Claims

1. A liquid chromatography system useful for rapid separation or characterization of a plurality of samples, the system comprising

two or more chromatographic columns,

two or more supply conduits providing continuous parallel fluid communication between a liquid mobile-phase source and the two or more chromatographic columns, respectively, the fluid communication being provided by each of the two or more supply conduits through one or more flow restrictors,

an injection system, comprising an injector and a multi-port switching valve, for serially and distributively injecting a plurality of samples into a liquid mobile phase supplied in parallel to the two or more chromatographic columns,

the injector having a sample-loading port for serially receiving a plurality of samples and having a sample-discharge port for discharging the plurality of samples under pressure to the switching valve,

the switching valve having an inlet port and two or more selectable outlet ports, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the sample-discharge port of the injector and being in selectable fluid communication with the two or more selectable outlet ports, the two or more selectable outlet ports being in fluid communication with the two or more chromatographic columns, respectively, such that the plurality of samples can be serially and distributively injected into the mobile phase of the two or more chromatographic columns.

2. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 further comprising a control system for controlling which of the two or more selectable outlet ports of the switching valve is in fluid communication with the inlet port of the switching valve.

3. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 wherein the two or more chromatographic columns are four or more chromatographic columns, the two or more mobile phase supply conduits are four or more mobile phase supply conduits, the switching valve has four or more selectable outlet ports, the inlet port is in selectable fluid communication with the four or more selectable outlet ports, and the four or more selectable outlet ports are in fluid communication with the four or more chromatographic columns, respectively, such that the plurality of samples can be serially and distributively injected into the mobile phase of the four or more chromatographic columns.

4. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 wherein the injector is a multi-loop injection valve.

5. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1 further comprising one or more detectors in fluid communication with the two or more chromatographic columns.

6. A system for evaluating interactions between a plurality of liquid samples and one or more solid or supported materials, the system comprising

two or more columns comprising solid or supported materials,

two or more supply conduits providing continuous parallel fluid communication between a liquid mobile-phase source and the two or more columns, respectively, the fluid communication being provided by each of the two or more supply conduits through one or more flow restrictors, and

an injection system, comprising an injector and a multi-port switching valve, for serially and distributively injecting a plurality of liquid samples into a liquid mobile phase supplied to the two or more columns,

the injector having a sample-loading port for serially receiving the plurality of samples and having a sample-discharge port for discharging the plurality of samples under pressure to the switching valve,

the switching valve having an inlet port and two or more selectable outlet ports, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the sample-discharge port of the injector and being in selectable fluid communication with the two or more selectable outlet ports, the two or more selectable outlet ports being in fluid communication with the two or more columns, respectively, such that the plurality of samples can be serially and distributively injected into the mobile phase of the two or more columns.