Apparatus for preparative supercritical fluid chromatography

摘要

A fractionated sample collection device having at least one collection chamber (32) used to gather and store liquid samples generated from a flow stream containing a mixture of highly compressed gas, compressible liquid, or supercritical fluid and a relatively incompressible liquid. Each collection chamber houses a replaceable liner (36) such as a test tube vial, to hold a fractionated liquid phase sample (38). After filling with sample, a collection chamber is returned to a clean state and ready for refilling with a new sample by manually or automatically replacing the liner. The separation and collection process partitions the liquid phase, containing modifier and dissolved sample components from the gaseous phase components upstream of the collection chamber so that liquid phase has controlled discharge into the collection chamber. Movement and replacement of collection chamber liners to capture liquid fractions can be manually or robotically controlled. Automatic replacement of liners increases the speed of production as well as quality control by preventing drips and spills and possible carryover contamination of samples. The system provides extremely efficient and controllable gas and liquid phase separation, thereby effecting up to 98% injection recovery. The collection process is environmentally friendly and economical because it eliminates additional uses of solvents to collect, trap, or recover fractions. In addition, the process eliminates any additional cleaning solvents associated with mechanical phase-separation devices. The invention promotes high speed, high volume, and high quality fractionated SFC sample production.