Chromatography apparatus and method

Claim 2

In a chromatography column in which flow of a fluid to be separated occurs primarily along a predetermined axis, said column having a height dimension, a packing for said column comprising: a plurality of layers of chromatographic media arranged contiguous to each other, said layers having a thickness dimension and a height dimension, said thickness dimension of said layers extending substantially perpendicularly to said predetermined axis, said height dimension of said layers extending substantially parallel to said predetermined axis, said layers being substantially continuous and homogeneous to form a uniformly dense layer in both the thickness and height dimensions of said layers, said height dimension of said layers being substantially equal to the height dimension of said column.

Claim 3

The column of claim 1 wherein said layers are composed of sheets of chromatographic media, said sheets having surfaces arranged contiguous to the surface of a next adjacent sheet.

Claim 4

The column of claim 1 wherein said sheets are serially interconnected to form an integral, continuous roll of chromatographic media.

Claim 5

In a chromatography column in which the flow of fluid to be separated occurs primarily along a predetermined axis, packing means for said column comprising: a plurality of layers of chromatographic media being arranged adjacent each other having the surfaces thereof extending substantially along said axis, said surfaces being arranged adjacent each other, said layers having a thickness dimension extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis, partitioning means interposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of layers for separating said layers and maintaining said layers at a substantially uniform thickness, said partitioning means being substantially impervious to fluid, said partitioning means contacting said surfaces to prevent substantial fluid flow between said surfaces and said partitioning means.

Claim 6

In a chromatography column in which the flow of fluid to be separated occurs primarily along a predetermined axis, packing means for said column comprising: a plurality of layers of chromatographic media being arranged adjacent each other having the surfaces thereof extending substantially along said axis, said surfaces being arranged adjacent each other, said layers having a thickness dimension extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis, partitioning means interposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of layers for separating said layers and maintaining said layers at a substantially uniform thickness, said partitioning means being substantially impervious to fluid, said partitioning means contacting said surfaces to prevent substantial fluid flow between said surfaces and said partitioning means.

Claim 7

The column of claim 4 wherein said layers of chromatographic media are of substantially uniform thickness and density.

Claim 8

The column of claim 4 wherein said partitioning means comprises at least one sheet of relatively inert material, said layers being adhered to said partitioning means.

Claim 9

The column of claim 4 wherein said partitioning means is a structural component of said packing.

Claim 10

The column of claim 7 wherein said partitioning means has a thickness less than the thickness of said layer.

Claim 11

The column of claim 4 wherein said column has a substantially cylindrical shape, said partitioning means comprising a continuous sheet of partitioning material arranged in a spiral pattern to form said cylinder, said chromatographic media forming a continuous spiral layer adjacent said partitioning means.

Claim 12

The column of claim 4 wherein said column is composed of separate layers of media alternating with separate layers of said partitioning means to form a laminated structure.

Claim 13

The column of claim 10 wherein said column is substantially cylindrical, said layers of chromatographic media comprising coaxial substantially cylindrical shells and wherein said partitioning means comprises separate substantially cylindrical coaxial shells interposed between said layers of chromatographic media.

Claim 14

The column of claim 10 wherein said column is a parallelepiped of separate layers of chromatographic media alternating with separate layers comprising said partitioning means to form a sandwich structure.

Claim 15

The column of claim 4 wherein said partitioning means comprises a sheet of relatively inert material.

Claim 16

The column of claim 13 wherein said sheet comprises a material of relatively high thermal conductivity.

Claim 17

The column of claim 14 wherein said thermally conductive material comprises a metal.

Claim 18

The column of claim 13 wherein said sheet comprises a syntheTic polymer.

Claim 19

The column of claim 4 further comprising: means in said column for thermally conditioning selected locations within said column.

Claim 20

The column of claim 17 wherein said means for thermally conditioning comprises means for heating selected portions of said column.

Claim 21

The column of claim 17 wherein said means for thermally conditioning comprises means for cooling selected portions of said column.

Claim 22

The column of claim 17 wherein said means for thermally conditioning selected portions of said column further comprises means for transmitting heat from a first portion of said column to a second portion of said column.

Claim 23

The column of claim 4 further comprising: heat transfer conduit means interposed between said layers of chromatographic media.

Claim 24

The column of claim 21 wherein said heat transfer conduit means comprise channels formed in said partitioning means.

Claim 25

The column of claim 4 wherein the thickness of said individual layer of chromatographic media does not exceed a thickness at which a substantial temperature gradient will occur across said multiple layers of chromatographic media.

Claim 26

The column of claim 23 wherein said thickness is less than about one centimeter.

Claim 27

The column of claim 4 wherein said column has substantially a cylindrical shape, said column further comprising a core composed of a relatively inert material.

Claim 28

The column of claim 25, said core having a channel means therein for circulating a heat transfer fluid therethrough.

Claim 29

The column of claim 4 further comprising: means in said column contacting said layers of chromatographic media for sensing the temperature at selected locations in said column.

Claim 30

The column of claim 4 further comprising an outer shell surrounding said column, said shell providing structural support for said column.

Claim 31

The column of claim 28 wherein said outer shell comprises the same material as said partitioning means.