Separation of complex mixtures, e.g. of natural products

摘要

Apparatus for the separation of complex mixtures by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) has separation column units (A,F), fractioning column units (E,G), detectors (7,20,21), pump units (B,C,D) and collection units for the fractions. These units, including each separation or fractioning column, have a controlled interconnection between them through multi-path valves. A computer has the required control software for the components of the system to work together. Also claimed is a corresponding process, in which the complex mixture is separated in gradients in a separation column unit (A) into a defined number of fractions by a pump unit (B). The polarity of the eluents is increased by pumped (C) water. The fractions are transferred to a first fractioning column unit (G), with a number of columns matching the number of separated fractions, for adsorption of each fraction in each column by solid phase extraction. The adsorbed fractions with few polar eluents are flushed through in sequence from the first fractioning column unit (E) to a second separation column unit (F) for further separation with weak gradients by a pump unit (B), and the polarity of the eluents is increased by pumped water (C). The further separated fractions are transferred in sequence to a fractioning column unit (G), according to detector (20,21) signals, for adsorption of each fraction in the columns by solid phase extraction. The fractions are flushed out of the fractioning column unit (G) in sequence by a pump unit (D) to the fraction collection stage (H), with a pump unit (D) for low polar eluents and cleaning of the flushed fractioning columns. The transport of the mobile phases and the intermediate cleaning and preparation stages for the separate columns are by control of the pump units (B-D), the switching of the multi-path valves and the fraction collection by processing the detector (7,20,21) signals through a computer.