Preparation chromatography system

Abstract

A preparative chromatograph system includes: a chromatograph section having a separation column and a detector fluidly connected downstream of the separation column and outputting a signal based on a component concentration of an eluent from the separation column; a fraction collector, which has a plurality of collection containers, and which performs, downstream of the chromatograph unit, a separation operation in which fractions of the eluent from the separation column are dropped into the collection containers from the nozzles and collected; a controller that controls the fraction collector based on a fractionation condition; an information processing device; the information processing device is configured so as to associate all fractions collected in the collection container by the fraction collector with a chromatogram created on the basis of a signal from the detector, thereby dividing the chromatogram into fraction sections corresponding to the respective fractions collected in the collection container. On the basis of the separation conditions, separation result information is created and output to a display, said separation result information being obtained by adding collection information including the separation purposes of the fractions corresponding to all of the fraction sections.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a preparative chromatograph system. Background Art

[0002] There is known a preparative chromatograph system in which various components contained in a sample are separated from each other using a chromatograph such as a high-performance liquid chromatograph, and portions containing the respective components in the eluate from the separation column are separately trapped into individual trapping containers (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the automatic fractionation based on the preparative chromatograph system, there are fractionation based on waveform processing, fractionation based on a time program, and the like. In the fractionation based on waveform processing, peaks of components appearing in a chromatogram obtained by a chromatograph are detected under preset conditions, and the operation of a fraction collector is controlled so that portions detected as peaks in the chromatogram in the eluate from the separation column are sequentially trapped into individual trapping containers. Further, in the fractionation based on a time program, the operation of the fraction collector is controlled based on a time program set to fractionate a desired peak portion in a chromatogram of a sample obtained in advance.

[0004] [Prior Art Documents]

[0005] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-159747 Summary of the Invention

[0007] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0008] In a preparative chromatograph system, after performing the automatic fractionation as described above, fractionation result information indicating which fraction interval on the chromatogram (the interval on the chromatogram corresponding to the portion trapped into the trapping container in the eluate) is trapped into which trapping container is presented to the user. However, in the fractionation result information presented to the user by the conventional systems, it is not easy to grasp for what purpose which fraction interval on the chromatogram is trapped into the trapping container. Therefore, for example, even when a certain portion on the chromatogram is dropped into the trapping container for purging the inside of the nozzle of the fraction collector, it is difficult to distinguish only by looking at the fractionation result whether the fraction interval is dropped into the trapping container for the purpose of purging or is trapped into the trapping container due to misdetection as a peak.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to enable a user to easily identify for what purpose each fraction interval on the chromatogram trapped into the trapping container is fractionated based on the fractionation result information presented after the fractionation of the sample is completed.

[0010] [Technical means for solving the problem]

[0011] In the preparative chromatograph system of the present invention, it includes:

[0012] A chromatograph section having a separation column and a detector, where the separation column is used to separate the components contained in the sample from each other, and the detector is fluidly connected downstream of the separation column and outputs a signal based on the component concentration of the eluate from the separation column;

[0013] A fraction collector having a plurality of collection containers and configured to perform the following fractionation operation downstream of the chromatograph section, that is, a fractionation operation of collecting the eluate from the separation column by dropping it from a nozzle into the collection containers;

[0014] A controller configured to control the operation of the fraction collector based on preset fractionation conditions;

[0015] An information processing device configured to perform information processing related to the fractionation operation of the fraction collector; and

[0016] A display for displaying the information output by the information processing device,

[0017] The information processing device is configured to: attach to the chromatogram made based on the signal of the detector of the chromatograph section the fraction interval on the chromatogram captured by the fraction collector into the collection container and the collection information including the collection purpose of capturing the fraction interval, and output it to the display.

[0018] [Effects of the invention]

[0019] According to the preparative chromatograph system of the present invention, since it is configured to output to the display the chromatogram with the fraction interval on the chromatogram captured by the fraction collector into the collection container and the collection information including the collection purpose of capturing the fraction interval attached, the user can easily identify for what purpose each fraction interval on the chromatogram captured into the collection container is fractionated. Description of the drawings

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram showing an embodiment of the preparative chromatograph system.

[0021] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing an example of the fractionation result information displayed on the display in the above embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3 It is a flowchart showing the operation of the above embodiment.

[0023] [Explanation of reference symbols]

[0024] 1: Preparative chromatograph system

[0025] 2: Chromatograph unit

[0026] 4: Fraction collector

[0027] 6: Controller

[0028] 8: Information processing device

[0029] 10: Display

[0030] 12: Liquid delivery pump

[0031] 14: Automatic sampler

[0032] 16: Separation column

[0033] 18: Detector

[0034] 20: Nozzle

[0035] 22: Three-way solenoid valve

[0036] 24: Trapping container Detailed implementation mode

[0037] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the preparative chromatograph system of the present invention will be described.

[0038] As Figure 1 shown, the preparative chromatograph system 1 includes a chromatograph unit 2, a fraction collector 4, a controller 6, an information processing device 8, and a display 10.

[0039] The chromatograph unit 2 includes a liquid delivery pump 12, an automatic sampler 14, a separation column 16, and a detector 18. The liquid delivery pump 12 delivers the mobile phase toward the separation column 16. The separation column 16 is used to separate various components in the sample injected into the mobile phase from each other. The automatic sampler 14 is a device for injecting the sample into the mobile phase flowing toward the separation column 16. The detector 18 is provided downstream of the separation column 16 and outputs an intensity signal corresponding to the concentration of the components in the eluate from the separation column 16.

[0040] The fraction collector 4 includes a nozzle 20 and a three-way solenoid valve 22. The nozzle 20 can move at least in the horizontal plane direction. The nozzle 20 is fluidly connected downstream of the detector 18 of the chromatograph unit 2. In addition, a plurality of trapping containers 24 are arranged in the area within the moving range of the nozzle 20, and the nozzle 20 can be positioned above any one of the trapping containers 24 to drip the eluate from the separation column 16. The three-way solenoid valve 22 is provided upstream of the nozzle 20 and is arranged to switch and guide the eluate passing through the detector 18 to either the nozzle 22 or the drain.

[0041] The controller 6 controls the operations of the chromatograph unit 2 and the fraction collector 4 based on the fractionation conditions provided by an information processing device 8 described later. The controller 6 is a device including a central processing unit (CPU) and an electronic circuit including an information storage memory and the like.

[0042] The information processing device 8 is a computer device for performing various information processes. The user sets fractionation conditions for the information processing device 8 so that fractions of the eluate containing the desired components in the sample are respectively trapped in the trapping containers 24. The fractionation conditions include the flow rate of the mobile phase, the sample injection volume, the temperature of the separation column 16, the trapping conditions of the fraction collector 4, and the like. The trapping conditions of the fraction collector 4 are conditions for determining the time points at which the eluate is dropped from the nozzle 20 and trapped in the trapping containers 24. In the case of performing fractionation by waveform processing based on a chromatogram, the trapping conditions include peak detection conditions for detecting peaks appearing in the chromatogram. In the case of performing fractionation based on a time program, the trapping conditions include a time program for trapping the desired components in the respective trapping containers 24. Furthermore, the trapping conditions of the fraction collector 4 also include the purge time for purging the nozzle 20 after trapping the portion of the eluate corresponding to the peak portion appearing in the chromatogram.

[0043] The information processing device 8 provides the fractionation conditions set by the user to the controller 6. The controller 6 controls the operations of the chromatograph unit 2 and the fraction collector 4 based on the information related to the fractionation conditions provided by the information processing device 8, and sequentially traps the fractions of the eluate from the separation column 16 in the trapping containers 24.

[0044] Furthermore, each time a portion of the eluate is trapped in the trapping container 24, the controller 6 sends not only the retention time of the fraction interval on the chromatogram corresponding to the portion of the eluate trapped in the trapping container 24 to the information processing device 8, but also the purpose of trapping the fraction interval and the trapping information including the identification information of the trapping container 24 containing the trapped fraction interval to the information processing device 8. The purpose of trapping the fraction interval is information indicating whether the fraction interval is trapped in the trapping container 24 as a trapped target portion (peak portion on the chromatogram) in the eluate from the separation column 16 or as a non-trapped target portion that is not a trapped target portion. The fraction interval that becomes a non-trapped target portion is, for example, the fraction interval dropped into an empty trapping container 24 for purging the nozzle 20.

[0045] The information processing device 8 creates a chromatogram of the sample based on the output signal from the detector 18 read via the controller 6, and attaches to the created chromatogram the fraction intervals captured in the capture container 24 and the capture information for each fraction interval based on the capture information received from the controller 6. Thus, the information processing device 8 creates fractionation result information as shown in Figure 2 which is obtained by attaching the capture information for each fraction interval captured in the capture container 24 to the chromatogram.

[0046] The display 10 is connected to the information processing device 8 in a communicable manner, and is a device for displaying the information output by the information processing device 8. After creating the fractionation result information, the information processing device 8 outputs the created fractionation result information to the display 10 according to a request from the user or automatically, and presents it to the user via the display 10.

[0047] In Figure 2 the fractionation result information, the fraction intervals respectively captured in the capture container 24 are displayed on the chromatogram. The 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, and 1-5 attached to each fraction interval are respectively the identification information of the capture container 24 that captured the fraction interval (for example, the number indicating the position where the capture container 24 is placed in the fraction collector 4). It is shown that the fraction intervals captured in the capture containers 24 of 1-1, 1-3, and 1-5 are peak portions, and it is shown that the fraction intervals captured in the capture containers 24 of 1-2 and 1-4 are the fraction intervals dropped from the nozzle 20 to the capture containers 24 of 1-2 and 1-4 for purging the nozzle 20.

[0048] As described above, in the fractionation result information, not only is it shown which capture container 24 each fraction interval on the chromatogram is captured in, but also the capture purpose indicating for what purpose each fraction interval is captured is shown, which helps the user referring to the fractionation result information to verify whether the setting of the fractionation conditions is appropriate. For example, in the fraction interval with the identification information 1-2 of the capture container 24, there is noise like a peak. By attaching the information indicating that the capture purpose is purging, the user can easily make a judgment such as that the noise is not misdetected as a peak and captured in the capture container 24, but is the fraction interval dropped into the capture container for the purpose of purging.

[0049] In addition, in the above embodiment, the controller 6 and the information processing device 8 are provided as independent devices, but the controller 6 and the information processing device 8 can also be implemented using one computer device.

[0050] Used together Figure 1 and Figure 3 the flowcharts, an example of the operation of the preparation chromatograph system 1 will be described.

[0051] In the information processing device 8, the user sets the fractionation conditions. When an instruction to start fractionation is given, an instruction is sent from the controller 6 to the chromatograph unit 2 and the fraction collector 4, and the sample is injected into the mobile phase through the autosampler 14 (step 101). After the sample is injected into the mobile phase, if the controller 6 determines that the part to be trapped (peak part) has reached the fraction collector 4, the fraction collector 4 is controlled so that the part to be trapped is trapped in an empty trapping container 24 (steps 102 and 103). At this time, the controller 6 sends the trapping information of the part to the information processing device 8. The information processing device 8 marks the section corresponding to the eluate part trapped in the trapping container 24 in the chromatogram being made as a fraction section, and attaches the trapping information of the fraction section to the fraction section (step 104). Here, a mark indicating "peak" trapped as a peak part is attached to the corresponding fraction section on the chromatogram.

[0052] Then, during the period before the part of the eluate corresponding to the next part to be trapped reaches the fraction collector 4, the controller 6 moves the nozzle 20 onto a new empty trapping container 24 and purges the nozzle 20 by dripping the eluate for a preset purging time into the trapping container 24 (step 105). At this time, the controller 6 also sends the trapping information of the part of the eluate trapped in the trapping container 24 to the information processing device 8. The information processing device 8 marks the section corresponding to the trapped eluate part in the chromatogram being made as a fraction section, and attaches the trapping information of the fraction section to the fraction section (step 106). Here, a mark indicating "purge", which means the fraction section is trapped in the trapping container 24 to purge the nozzle 20, is attached to the fraction section.

[0053] The above steps 102 to 106 are repeatedly executed until the fractionation of all the trapped components in the sample is completed (or until a preset fractionation time has elapsed since the sample was injected). When the fractionation of the sample is completed (step 107), the information processing device 8 outputs the produced fractionation result information to the display 10, and presents the fractionation result information to the user via the display 10. The trapping information indicating the purpose of the trapped fraction section is shown by "peak" or "purge", etc., but it can also be shown by a symbol (○ or △) indicating a peak or a purge, or by color-coding each trapping information indicating the purpose of trapping the fraction section.

[0054] The embodiments described above are merely examples of the embodiments of the preparative chromatograph system of the present invention, and the embodiments of the preparative chromatograph system of the present invention are as follows.

[0055] In an embodiment of the preparative chromatograph system of the present invention, it includes:

[0056] A chromatograph unit having a separation column and a detector, the separation column being used to separate components contained in a sample from each other, and the detector being fluidly connected downstream of the separation column and outputting a signal based on the concentration of components in the eluate from the separation column;

[0057] A fraction collector having a plurality of collection containers and configured to perform a fractionation operation downstream of the chromatograph unit, the fractionation operation being to collect the eluate from the separation column by dropping it from a nozzle into the collection containers;

[0058] A controller configured to control the operation of the fraction collector based on preset fractionation conditions;

[0059] An information processing device configured to perform information processing related to the fractionation operation of the fraction collector; and

[0060] A display for displaying information output by the information processing device,

[0061] The information processing device is configured to: attach, to a chromatogram produced based on the signal of the detector of the chromatograph unit, fraction intervals on the chromatogram captured by the fraction collector into the collection containers and collection information including the collection purpose of capturing the fraction intervals, and output the result to the display.

[0062] In a first form of the embodiment, the controller is configured to: separately capture a capture target portion containing a component to be captured in the eluate of the separation column and a non-capture target portion that is not the capture target portion in the eluate of the separation column into the collection containers, and the collection information includes information for distinguishing whether each fraction interval on the chromatogram corresponds to a fraction interval corresponding to the capture target portion or a fraction interval corresponding to the non-capture target portion.

[0063] In the first form, the non-capture target portion is the eluate that is dropped from the nozzle of the fraction collector into the collection containers for purging the inside of the nozzle.

[0064] In this case, the collection information may include identification information of the collection containers that capture each fraction interval on the chromatogram.

Claims

1. A preparative chromatography system comprising: a chromatograph section having a separation column for separating components contained in a sample from each other and a detector, the separation column being fluidically connected downstream of the separation column and outputting a signal based on the concentration of the component in an eluent from the separation column; A fraction collector having a plurality of collection containers and used to perform the following fractionation action downstream of the chromatograph section, i.e., dripping the eluent from the separation column from the nozzle into the collection container for collection; A controller configured to control the operation of the fraction collector based on a preset fractionation condition; an information processing device configured to perform information processing related to the fractionation operation of the fraction collector; and a display for displaying information output by the information processing device, The information processing device is configured to add, to the chromatogram created based on the signal of the detector of the chromatograph section, the capture information of the fraction interval on the chromatogram captured by the fraction collector in the capture container and the capture purpose including the captured fraction interval, and output it to the display.

2. The preparative chromatography system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to respectively capture the capture target portion containing the capture target component in the eluate of the separation column and the non-capture target portion which is not the capture target portion in the eluate of the separation column into the capture container, The trapping information includes information for distinguishing whether each fraction section on the chromatogram is a fraction section corresponding to the trapping target portion or a fraction section corresponding to the non-trapping target portion.

3. The preparative chromatography system according to claim 2, wherein: The non-collection target portion is the eluent dropped from the nozzle into the collection container in order to purge the inside of the nozzle of the fraction collector.

4. The preparative chromatography system according to claim 2, wherein: The trapping information includes identification information of the trapping container that traps each fraction interval on the chromatogram.

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