Lower sealing means for chromatographic column

Claim 1

In a disposable chromatographic column, including a generally cylindrical hollow column constructed of polyolefin material and being open at its inlet and outlet ends, said column having a substantially uniform interior diameter throughout its length but terminating with a tapered portion at its outlet end, said chromatographic column being adapted to receive an adsorbent matrix for use in a two-phase fluid separation process, an improved lower sealing means comprising: a disc of phase separation paper having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said column and transversely disposed within said column adjacent the point at which said tapered portion commences; and a retaining ring having a flat base portion with a central opening of lesser dimension than said paper disc and having a circumferential flange formed of polyolefin material for sealingly engaging the interior of said column, said ring being dimensioned to be inserted into said column from said inlet end, with said flange extending away from outlet end of said column, for sealing contact with said paper disc at its periphery.