Separations Technology, Inc.

Garth E Strobel

Frederick Dana Cazer

Barry L Scott

The present invention involves a dual column chromatographic apparatus with column switching capability that is useful in any pressurized fluid chromatography system. The apparatus has at least a first and second chromatographic column, a detector, a fluid conveyance system having a multivalve arrangement, pressurizable fluid conduit assembly, and a controller. The columns are adapted for containing stationary phase or packing for separation of a multicomponent sample into one or more components. The multi-valve arrangement has a plurality of multi-port, multi-modal valves and can include an ingress-egress valve; a guard pre-column valve; detector isolation valve; a set of four, four-port, multi-modal valves; or a set of two four-port, multi-modal valves and one six-port, multi-modal valve or a first valve set and a second valve set. The two chromatographic columns, multi-valve arrangement, and detector are linked for pressurized fluid communication by the pressurized fluid conduit assembly. This conduit assembly with pressurization enables the passage of the fluid mobile phase with or without a sample into the multivalve arrangement, between the valves of the multi-valve arrangement, from and to the multi-valve arrangement and the first column, from and to the multi-valve arrangement and the detector, from and to the multi-valve arrangement and the second column, and out of the multi-valve arrangement. An electronic, pneumatic, or hydraulic controller is connected for actuating action with the valves in the multi-valve arrangement to change one or more of the valves from one state of pathways to another state of pathways.

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Smyrna, NY, United States of America

Garth E Strobel