US4830756A
Expired / Lapsed
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High speed separation of ultra-high molecular weight polymers by hyperlayer field-flow fractionation
Assignee: University of Utah
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Filing: 1988-07-11
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Granted: 1989-05-16
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Expires: 2008-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A process for high speed separation of ultra-high molecular weight polymers using a hyperlayer field-flow fractionation technique comprising forcing a carrier fluid containing a small sample of the high molecular weight polymer through a thin flow channel possessing an accumulation wall, applying a primary externally controlled driving force transversely across the thin dimension of the channel, adjusting the flowrate of the fluid and the field strength of the primary externally controlled force in relationship to the channel thickness such that at least over part of the molecular weight range the entropic force F e and the primary driving force F 1 are related by the inequality |F e |>|F 1 | at the accumulation wall of the channel.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Giddings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/0005; B; B03; B03B; B03B5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A field-flow fractionation process for the fractionation of high molecular weight polymeric and macromolecular materials which comprises forcing a carrier fluid containing a small sample of the said high molecular weight material through a thin flow channel in which one of the walls of the channel becomes an accumulation wall, applying a primary externally controlled driving force transversely across the thin dimension of the channel, adjusting the flowrate of the fluid and the strength of the primary externally controlled force in relationship to the channel thickness such that at least over part of the molecular weight range the entropic force F e and the primary driving force F 1 are related by the inequality |F e |>|F 1 | at the accumulation wall of the channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A field-flow fractionation process for the fractionation of high molecular weight polymeric and macromolecular materials which comprises forcing a carrier fluid containing a small sample of the said high molecular weight material through a thin flow channel in which one of the walls of the channel becomes an accumulation wall, applying a primary externally controlled driving force transversely across the thin dimension of the channel, adjusting the flowrate of the fluid and the strength of the primary externally controlled force in relationship to the channel thickness such that at least over part of the molecular weight range the entropic force F e and the primary driving force F 1 are related by the inequality |F e |>|F 1 | at the accumulation wall of the channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the high molecular weight polymeric components are driven to different equilibrium hyperlayer positions x eq by the combination of a primary driving force and an entropic lift force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein over part of the molecular weight range the highest molecular weight polymers elute before polymers of lower molecular weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the field-flow fractionation channel has a thin rectangular shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the field-flow fractionation channel consists of a thin open or concentric tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the shear rate at the accumulation wall exeeds 100 per second.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the primary driving force is generated by application of a temperature gradient across the channel thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the primary driving force is generated by the crossflow of liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the primary driving force is a sedimentation force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the primary driving force is an electrical force.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material has a molecular weight of at least 1×10 6 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the strength of the primary driving force is changed in the course of the run.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A procesa as in claim 1 wherein the sample consists of flexible polymeric molecules.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material has a molecular weight between 1×10 6 to 100×10 6 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the sample consists of rigid polymer molecules.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material consists of lipophilic polymer material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the sample consists of water soluble polymers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the sample consists of biopolymers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the sample consists of DNA and associated materials.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-15 | 1992-11-14 | 1993-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-15 | 1996-11-14 | 1997-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-15 | 2000-11-14 | 2001-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |