Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of effecting automated supercritical fluid chromatographic separation comprising providing a pump having inlet means and a first outlet in communication with an injector for introducing a fluid sample into a column disposed within an oven and a discharge passageway having a first restrictor and, a discharge outlet disposed downstream therefrom with automated controller means for controlling operation of said pump and said oven, said pump outlet means having means for delivering fluid to said discharge passageway at a pressure control inlet disposed intermediate said first restrictor and said discharge outlet, introducing a first portion of said fluid sample into said column by means of said injector, passing part of said first portion through said column under supercritical conditions and through said restrictor to said discharge outlet, and simultaneously with said first portion separation introducing a second fluid portion into said pressure control inlet at a predetermined pressure in order to control the flow rate of said first portion, whereby said pump will control the flow rate of said first portion of said sample fluid through said column under automated conditions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of effecting automated supercritical fluid chromatographic separation comprising providing a pump having inlet means and a first outlet in communication with an injector for introducing a fluid sample into a column disposed within an oven and a discharge passageway having a first restrictor and, a discharge outlet disposed downstream therefrom with automated controller means for controlling operation of said pump and said oven, said pump outlet means having means for delivering fluid to said discharge passageway at a pressure control inlet disposed intermediate said first restrictor and said discharge outlet, introducing a first portion of said fluid sample into said column by means of said injector, passing part of said first portion through said column under supercritical conditions and through said restrictor to said discharge outlet, and simultaneously with said first portion separation introducing a second fluid portion into said pressure control inlet at a predetermined pressure in order to control the flow rate of said first portion, whereby said pump will control the flow rate of said first portion of said sample fluid through said column under automated conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 including introducing as said second fluid sample portion a portion of said fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 including employing a capillary column as said column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 including employing a packed column as said column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2 including providing flowmeter means intermediate said pump and said injector means, and monitoring the flow rate of said fluid to said injector by said flowmeter and employing information obtained in said monitoring to operate said process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 including providing said pump as a high pressure pump having a total output capacity of about 50 to 250 ml at 1000 psia.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 including maintaining the temperature of said first fluid portion at or above its critical temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 including employing said oven to maintain the temperature of said first fluid portion at said temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 including employing said predetermined pressure in said second fluid portion to control sample retention time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 including providing a second restrictor intermediate said first restrictor and said discharge outlet, and introducing said second fluid portion at a pressure control inlet disposed between said first restrictor and said second restrictor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 including varying the sample fluid first portion flow rate through said column by varying said predetermined pressure of said second fluid portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 including mixing the processed part of said first fluid portion which passes through said column and said second fluid portion at said pressure control inlet, and discharging said mixed portion through said discharge outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 including providing detector means operatively associated with said discharge outlet, and introducing said mixed portion into said detector means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 including employing an open tubular column as said column.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 including employing a packed column as said column.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 13 including providing a flame detector as said detector means, and providing said second fluid portion of said fluid sample at an elevated temperature with respect to said processed part of said first fluid portion, whereby mixing of said two fluid portions will result in elevation of the temperature of said processed part of said first portion prior to introduction of said processed part of said first portion into said flame detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 16 including maintaining said fluid sample second portion at about 1 to 50% above the temperature of said processed portion of said first portion, whereby distortion of peaks in the resultant chromatograph will be resisted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 17 including prior to mixing said processed part of said first fluid portion and said second fluid portion effecting an expansion of said processed part of said first fluid portion with a corresponding reduction in pressure and temperature therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 18 including effecting a reduction in the pressure of said processed part of said first fluid portion admixed with said second portion to approximately atmospheric pressure prior to introduction of said mixture into said flame detector.