Suprex Corp.

Mehdi Ashraf-Khorassani

Raymond K Houck

Gregory Shogan

The present invention pertains to an off-line collection system for use with supercritical fluid extraction. The system is comprised of apparatus for collecting analyte associated with the supercritical fluid extraction. The system is additionally comprised of an orifice for controlling flow of analyte to the collecting apparatus. The orifice converts analyte at a high pressure to a lower pressure. The orifice has a high pressure side which receives said high pressure analyte, and a lower pressure side in fluidic communication with the high pressure side which receives said high pressure analyte after it has been converted to a lower pressure. The high pressure side is capable of transporting analyte thereacross without essentially any loss thereof to the low pressure side which is in fluidic communication with the collecting apparatus. The analyte experiences essentially constant pressure as it is transported across the high pressure side. The system is also comprised of apparatus for desorbing the analyte from the collection apparatus. The desorbing apparatus is in fluidic communication with the collecting means. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes apparatus for purging the analyte. The purging apparatus is in fluidic communication with the collecting apparatus. Additionally, the collecting apparatus preferably includes a collection trap in which analyte is gathered, and apparatus for controlling the flow of analyte into the collection trap. The flow controlling apparatus is in fluidic communication with the collection trap and the purging apparatus. The flow control apparatus preferably includes an orifice.

Restrictor orifice for off-line supercritical fluid extraction

An orifice which includes a housing having a low pressure side with a first bore hole and a second bore hole. The low pressure side has a first channel and a second channel in fluidic communication with the first bore hole and the second bore hole, respectively. The housing also has a high pressure side with a third bore hole. The orifice also includes an adapter which has a tip, a fourth bore hole and a third channel in fluidic communication therewith. The third channel has a constant diameter for maintaining an essentially constant pressure thereacross when pressure is applied thereto such that fluid flowing through the third channel does not solidify. The adapter is sealingly received by the third bore hole such that the third channel and the first channel align. Additionally, the housing includes an interface plate disposed in the housing between the third channel and the first channel. The plate sealingly receives the tip of the adapter and allows for flow to exist between the third channel and the first channel through a plate hole. A method for collecting analyte. The method includes the steps of providing analyte obtained from supercritical fluid extraction to a collection trap through a high pressure side of an orifice.

Method for collecting analyte and an orifice for reducing pressure of a

The invention also relates to a method of packing an analytical column with packing particles. The method comprises the steps of pressurizing a first reservoir having packing particles disposed therein, with a solvent until the density of the solvent equals the density of the particles and forms a slurry where the particles are suspended in the solvent. Then, there is the step of fluidically connecting the first reservoir to an analytical column at essentially the same pressure as the first pressure such that the slurry flows into a chamber of the analytical column.

Apparatus and method for packing particles

The present invention is related to an apparatus for packing an analytical chromatography column having a first opening and a second opening with packing particles. The apparatus comprises means for providing solvent at a density essentially equal to the density of the packing particles. The providing means is in fluidic communication with the first opening of the column. The apparatus also comprises a first reservoir for containing the packing particles. The reservoir is in fluidic communication with the providing means such that solvent can mix with the particles in the first reservoir to form a slurry where the particles are suspended in the solvent and agglomeration of the packing particles is essentially absent when the slurry is introduced into the analytical chromatography column. There is also valve means in fluidic communication with the first reservoir and the first opening of the analytical column for controlling flow of the slurry of pressurized solvent and packing particles to the analytical column from the first reservoir. A fluid restrictor is fluidically connected to the second opening of the column for allowing the solvent to escape from the column while maintaining pressurization therein. The invention also relates to a method of packing an analytical column with packing particles. The method comprises the steps of pressurizing a first reservoir having packing particles disposed therein, with a solvent until the density of the solvent equals the density of the particles and forms a slurry where the particles are suspended in the solvent. Then, there is the step of fluidically connecting the first reservoir to an analytical column at essentially the same pressure as the first pressure such that the slurry flows into a chamber of the analytical column.

The present invention pertains to an off-line collection system for use with supercritical fluid extraction. The system is comprised of mechanism for collecting analyte associated with the supercritical fluid extraction. The system is additionally comprised of an orifice for controlling flow of analyte to the collecting mechanism. The orifice converts analyte at a high pressure to a lower pressure. The orifice has a high pressure side which receives said high pressure analyte, and a lower pressure side in fluidic communication with the high pressure side which receives said high pressure analyte after it has been converted to a lower pressure. The high pressure side is capable of transporting analyte thereacross without essentially any loss thereof to the low pressure side which is in fluidic communication with the collecting mechanism. The analyte experiences essentially constant pressure as it is transported across the high pressure side. The system is also comprised of mechanism for desorbing the analyte from the collection mechanism. The desorbing mechanism is in fluidic communication with the collecting mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes mechanism for purging the analyte. The purging mechanism is in fluidic communication with the collecting mechanism. Additionally, the collecting mechanism preferably includes a collection trap in which analyte is gathered, and mechanism for controlling the flow of analyte into the collection trap. The flow controlling mechanism is in fluidic communication with the collection trap and the purging mechanism. The flow control mechanism preferably includes an orifice.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Mehdi Ashraf-Khorassani