Chromatography precolumn

Claim 1

A precolumn for use with a chromatography column, the precolumn comprising: an outer annular casing defining a circular chamber of a selected internal diameter, having first and second ends with the first end being completely open to accommodate the end of the chromatography column and the second end being enclosed by a wall with openings therethrough for admitting eluent; a first and a second frit element received in the circular chamber; the first frit element being in abutment with the wall, the second frit element being axially spaced from the wall; each first frit element having a diameter less than that of the chamber; first and second annular sealing members having internal diameters approximately that of the frit elements, external diameters less than that of the circular chamber and a shoulder with an internal diameter less than that of the frit elements; a column ring having an external diameter proximate the internal diameter of the circular chamber and an internal diameter proximate the external diameter of the annular sealing members, the ring further having an internal annular shoulder spaced from the edges thereof a distance equal to the axial dimension of the sealing members, whereby the sealing members nest between the respective frits and the column ring while the column ring nests within the circular chamber with a space defined by the shoulder between the frits; a bed of sorbent disposed in the space defined by the shoulder projecting from the column ring and retained between the first and second frits, and an elastic sealing ring disposed in the circular space between the second end of the outer annular casing for effecting a seal between the precolumn and the chromatography column.