Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of increasing the throughput and separation power of a chromatographic system, which system is operated and fed a series of samples, each sample containing at least one particular constituent of interest, said method comprising the steps of: (a) periodically passing a series of samples at a first controlled rate into a first chromatographic column for the purpose of separating a particular constituent of interest from each of said samples; (b) obtaining eluant materials for each sample passing from said first chromatographic column and retaining in said chromatographic system only that fraction of each sample containing said particular constituent of interest; (c) periodically passing the retained fraction of each sample into a second chromatographic column at a second controlled rate, said first controlled rate being in substantial synchronism with said second controlled rate; (d) relating said first and said second controlled rates to provide sufficient separation between the particular constituent of interest of said sample fractions leaving said second chromatographic column and to provide that a number of sample fractions are concurrently passing through said second chromatographic column; and (e) passing said sample fractions leaving said second column through at least one additional chromatographic column to recycle said sample fractions and effect a greater separation of constituents in each of said sample fractions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of increasing the throughput and separation power of a chromatographic system, which system is operated and fed a series of samples, each sample containing at least one particular constituent of interest, said method comprising the steps of: (a) periodically passing a series of samples at a first controlled rate into a first chromatographic column for the purpose of separating a particular constituent of interest from each of said samples; (b) obtaining eluant materials for each sample passing from said first chromatographic column and retaining in said chromatographic system only that fraction of each sample containing said particular constituent of interest; (c) periodically passing the retained fraction of each sample into a second chromatographic column at a second controlled rate, said first controlled rate being in substantial synchronism with said second controlled rate; (d) relating said first and said second controlled rates to provide sufficient separation between the particular constituent of interest of said sample fractions leaving said second chromatographic column and to provide that a number of sample fractions are concurrently passing through said second chromatographic column; and (e) passing said sample fractions leaving said second column through at least one additional chromatographic column to recycle said sample fractions and effect a greater separation of constituents in each of said sample fractions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of increasing the throughput and separation power of the chromatographic system of claim 1, wherein said chromatographic system is a liquid chromatographic system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of increasing the throughput and separation power of the chromatographic system of claim 1, wherein said chromatographic system is a gas chromatographic system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of increasing the throughput and separation power of the chromatographic system or claim 1, further comprising the step of: analyzing said sample fractions passing from said additional chromatographic column to quantify at least said particular constituent of interest in said sample fractions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of increasing the throughput and separation power of the chromatographic system of claim 1, wherein a rate of passing said samples into the first chromatographic column is substantially equal to the rate of passing said sample fractions into said second chromatographic column.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1, including the further steps of: (e) discontinuing passing of said retained fractions through said second column, recycling each of said fractions leaving said additional column through said second column and analyzing each of said recycled fractions to quantify the amount of at least said particular constituent of interest in said recycled fractions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for chromatographic analysis of a series of samples, said apparatus having an improved throughput and separation power comprising: a first chromatographic column; first means for periodically passing a series of samples into said first chromatographic column at a first controlled rate; a second chromatographic column; second means for periodically passing a fraction of each sample eluted from said first chromatographic column into said second chromatographic column at a second controlled rate which is in substantial synchronism with said first controlled rate and related to said first controlled rate to provide sufficient separation between particular constituents of interest of each of said sample fractions eluting from said second chromatographic column and to provide that a number of sample fractions are passing concurrently through said second chromatographic column; a third chromatographic column for separating eluted fractions passing from said second chromatographic column; and recycling means for reintroducing sample fractions passing from said third chromatographic column back through said second chromatographic column.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for chromatographic analysis of a series of samples, said apparatus having an improved throughput and separation power comprising: a first chromatographic column; first means for periodically passing a series of samples into said first chromatographic column at a first controlled rate; a second chromatographic column; second means for periodically passing a fraction of each sample eluted from said first chromatographic column into said second chromatographic column at a second controlled rate which is in substantial synchronism with said first controlled rate and related to said first controlled rate to provide sufficient separation between particular constituents of interest of each of said sample fractions eluting from said second chromatographic column and to provide that a number of sample fractions are passing concurrently through said second chromatographic column; a third chromatographic column for separating eluted fractions passing from said second chromatographic column; and recycling means for reintroducing sample fractions passing from said third chromatographic column back through said second chromatographic column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system for chromatographic analysis of claim 7, further comprising means for analyzing said sample fractions passing from either said second or said third chromatographic column to quantify the amount of the particular constituent of interest in each of said sample fractions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system for chromatographic analysis of claim 7, wherein the means for analyzing is a photometer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system for chromatographic analysis of claim 7, wherein the means for analyzing is a spectrophotometer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system for chromatographic analysis of claim 7, wherein the first means for passing a series of samples through said first chromatographic column comprises a pump and a sample injection valve connected between said pump and said first chromatographic column.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system for chromatographic analysis of claim 7, wherein the second means for passing sample fractions from the first chromatographic column for introduction into said second chromatographic column comprises a switching valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for chromatographic analysis of claim 12, wherein the second means for passing sample fractions through said second chromatographic column further comprises a pump connected to said switching valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system for chromatographic analysis of claim 7, wherein said first controlled rate for passing samples into said first chromatographic column is substantially equal to said second controlled rate for passing said sample fractions into said second chromatographic column.