Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of analysis by liquid-phase chromatography with a pre-selected elution-gradient programme, which comprises the steps of supplying each of two chromatography columns having at least approximately similar porous volumes and permeability, with a mixture of two solvents, while maintaining the concentration of one solvent at the inlet to one column equal at any point in time to the concentration of the other solvent at the inlet to the other column, injecting the product to be analyzed into the inlet of one of the two columns, bringing the fluids leaving both columns together to form a mixture, and analyzing said mixture in a concentration detector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of analysis by liquid-phase chromatography with a pre-selected elution-gradient programme, which comprises the steps of supplying each of two chromatography columns having at least approximately similar porous volumes and permeability, with a mixture of two solvents, while maintaining the concentration of one solvent at the inlet to one column equal at any point in time to the concentration of the other solvent at the inlet to the other column, injecting the product to be analyzed into the inlet of one of the two columns, bringing the fluids leaving both columns together to form a mixture, and analyzing said mixture in a concentration detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 1, which comprises the step of correcting any differences in porous volume and permeability occurring during filling of the columns by adjusting a parameter of one of said columns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as defined in claim 1 which comprises the step of taking pressure readings at the top of the chromatography columns, determining the value of the signal delivered by the detector at any moment in the absence of solute by measuring the characteristic parameters of the chromatographic system, and comprising this signal simultaneously to the signal supplied by the detector.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for performing analysis by liquid-phase chromatography, comprising two chromatography columns of at least approximately similar porous volume and permeability, each connected by an inlet passage to a metering pump and by an outlet passage to a passage common to both columns, a nozzle for admitting solute leading into one of said inlet passages, and a concentration detector having a measuring cell supplied by said common passage, each metering pump comprising two cylinders, one for containing a first solvent and the other for containing a second solvent, all four cylinders being of equal size, a piston sliding in each cylinder, a first motor connected to drive at the same speed the piston in the cylinder of one pump containing the first solvent and the piston in the cylinder of the other pump containing the second solvent, a second motor connected to drive at the same speed the cylinder of the other pump containing the first solvent and the cylinder of said one pump for containing said second solvent, and means for maintaining the sum of the speeds of said two pumps constant.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for performing analysis by liquid-phase chromatography, comprising two chromatography columns of at least approximately similar porous volume and permeability, each connected by an inlet passage to a metering pump and by an outlet passage to a passage common to both columns, a nozzle for admitting solute leading into one of said inlet passages, and a concentration detector having a measuring cell supplied by said common passage, each metering pump comprising two cylinders, one for containing a first solvent and the other for containing a second solvent, all four cylinders being of equal size, a piston sliding in each cylinder, a first motor connected to drive at the same speed the piston in the cylinder of one pump containing the first solvent and the piston in the cylinder of the other pump containing the second solvent, a second motor connected to drive at the same speed the cylinder of the other pump containing the first solvent and the cylinder of said one pump for containing said second solvent, and means for maintaining the sum of the speeds of said two pumps constant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which one of the two columns comprises means for adjusting its porous volume and permeability.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the concentration detector is a single all-purpose detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the concentration detector is a single specific detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which the concentration detector comprises an all-purpose detector and a specific detector, one arranged downstream of the other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, comprising a comparator, connected to receive at any time, in digital form, on the one hand, the value of any deviation in the signal to be expected from the concentration detector, calculated from the characteristic parameters of the chromatographic system and the pressure measured in the proportioning pump cylinders, and on the other hand, the signal delivered by the concentration detector, a micro-computer connected to control the metering pumps in accordance with a pre-selected elution programme, and supply the comparator with pressure readings taken in the metering pump cylinders, and means for indicating the value of the difference at any point in time, between the calculated deviation and the signal supplied by the concentration detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which the porous volumes and permeabilities of the two chromatography columns differ by between 1 and 20 percent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said concentration detector is a differential refractometer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed im claim 7 in which said concentration detector is a spectrophotometer using ultra-violet radiations.