Method and system for identification, purification, and quantitation of reaction components

Claim 1

An automated method for the separation and purification of one or more compound(s) of interest from a mixture containing a plurality of components including said compound(s), comprising: a) subjecting a first sample of said mixture to separation by high performance liquid chromatography forming a stream of eluate, differing portions of said stream of eluate containing said compound(s) separated from other portions of eluate not containing said compound(s), a concentration of each of said differing portions of eluate representable by a chromatogram having a plurality of peaks extending above a baseline, each of said peaks corresponding to at least one component of said mixture, said peaks individually assigned an identifier corresponding to the position of a peak relative to other peaks; b) identifying which of said plurality of peaks correspond to compound(s) of interest; c) storing said chromatogram in digital format; d) selecting one or more peaks corresponding to compound(s) of interest for purification; e) providing a semi-preparative or preparative HPLC system having an HPLC column, said semi-preparative or preparative HPLC system employing an HPLC compatible detector having an electrical output, said electrical output applied to an analog/digital converter to produce a digitized detector signal, and having a mechanically actuatable fluid switching valve capable of directing flow of eluate from said semi-preparative or preparative HPLC column from at least one waste reservoir to at least one compound reservoir; f) selecting a threshold limit for said digitized detector signal such that excursions above said threshold limit will logically correspond to one or more compound peaks of said chromatogram; g) injecting a sample into said semi-preparative or preparative HPLC system with said mechanically actuatable fluid switching valve in position such that eluate is directed to said waste reservoir; h) comparing said digitized detector output to said threshold limit and identifying said compound peak(s); i) upon sensing a desired compound peak, actuating said mechanically actuatable fluid switching valve to direct eluate into said compound reservoir to collect a compound-containing eluate, wherein said peak identifier and said threshold limit are digitally stored in a computer, said computer performing step h) and generating actuating signals as required by step i).