Chromatography column packing system

Abstract

This application discloses a chromatographic column packing system, relating to the field of chromatographic column packing technology. The system includes a pneumatic booster pump, a pressure regulating valve, a homogenizer, and a chromatographic column. It also includes at least one needle valve connected in parallel with the pressure regulating valve. Compressed air, after being regulated by the parallel pressure regulating valve and at least one needle valve, is supplied to the pneumatic booster pump to pressurize the liquid flowing through it. The pressurized liquid directly forces the homogenate from the homogenizer into the chromatographic column. Based on the existing pressure regulating valve, at least one needle valve is connected in parallel. Through a combination of "coarse adjustment" and "fine adjustment," the pressure of the high-pressure liquid changes in a near-S-shaped curve, achieving smooth and stable pressurization from 1000-2000 psi to a maximum of 12000 psi. The packed chromatographic packing material has uniform particle distribution, no voids, and good compactness, preventing column head collapse, improving peak shape, and increasing column efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of chromatographic column packing technology, and more particularly to chromatographic column packing systems. Background Technology

[0002] The basic principle of chromatography is to utilize the differences in the interaction forces (such as adsorption, partition, ion exchange, etc.) between different solutes (samples) and the stationary and mobile phases. When the two phases move relative to each other, each solute undergoes multiple equilibrations between the two phases, so that each solute can be separated from the other.

[0003] High-pressure homogenization is a commonly used method for packing chromatographic columns. The packing material is suspended in a homogenizing solvent (such as petroleum ether or chloroform), degassed by ultrasonication, and placed in a homogenizing tank. A pneumatic booster pump pressurizes the liquid (usually the same solvent as the homogenizing solvent) and uses the pressurized liquid to force the homogenize in the homogenizing tank into the column tube to prepare the chromatographic column.

[0004] A pneumatic booster pump is a device that uses compressed air to boost low-pressure liquids to higher pressures and output them. In existing liquid chromatography column packing machines, the poor precision of the pressure regulating valve controlling the compressed air entering the pneumatic booster pump results in an approximately step-like pressure change in the high-pressure liquid output by the pneumatic booster pump, which is not a smooth and continuous change. This leads to uneven distribution of chromatographic packing material, easy formation of voids, poor packing compaction, and a serious impact on column efficiency and peak shape. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, this application provides a chromatographic column packing system that, based on the existing pressure regulating valve, connects at least one needle valve in parallel. Through a combination of "coarse adjustment" and "fine adjustment," the pressure of the high-pressure liquid changes in an approximately S-shaped curve, thereby improving the compactness of the chromatographic column packing. The specific scheme is as follows: The chromatographic column packing system includes a pneumatic booster pump, a pressure regulating valve, a homogenizer, and chromatographic column tubing; It also includes at least one needle valve connected in parallel with the pressure regulating valve, the adjustment accuracy of the needle valve being higher than that of the pressure regulating valve; the compressed air is adjusted by the parallel pressure regulating valve and at least one needle valve respectively and then combined and supplied to the pneumatic booster pump to pressurize the liquid flowing through the pneumatic booster pump. The chromatographic column is sealed to the outlet of the homogenizing tank, and the pressurized liquid directly forces the homogenate in the homogenizing tank into the chromatographic column.

[0006] Preferably, the pressurized liquid is output to the homogenizing tank via a shock absorber, which helps to ensure that the pressure changes in a smooth curve.

[0007] More preferably, the shock absorber includes a spiral-shaped pipeline; the pressurized liquid is output to the homogenizing tank through the spiral-shaped pipeline.

[0008] Preferably, the homogenizing tank is independently fixed by a bracket; or the homogenizing tank is fixed to one side of the pneumatic booster pump housing.

[0009] Preferably, the outlet of the homogenizer is threadedly connected to and sealed to the inlet of the chromatographic column.

[0010] The beneficial effects of this application are: 1) Compared with the existing technology, due to the low pressure regulation accuracy of the pressure regulating valve, the liquid output from the pneumatic booster pump is pressurized in a step-like manner. The chromatographic packing is unevenly distributed, prone to voids, and the chromatographic column has poor peak shape and low column efficiency. Based on the original pressure regulating valve, at least one needle valve is connected in parallel. By combining "coarse adjustment" and "fine adjustment", the pressure of the high-pressure liquid changes in a near S-shaped curve to achieve smooth and stable pressurization, gradually and stably increasing the pressure from 1000-2000 psi to a maximum of 12000 psi. The packed chromatographic packing is evenly distributed without voids, ensuring that the packing material in the chromatographic column is consistently compacted throughout, improving the peak shape and column efficiency.

[0011] 2) The pressurized liquid is output to the homogenizing tank through the vibration damper, which helps to ensure that the pressure changes in a smooth curve. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship of the chromatographic column packing system described in this application.

[0013] In the diagram: 1. Inlet pipe, 2. Outlet pipe, 3. Pneumatic booster pump, 4. Air inlet pipe, 5. Pressure regulating valve, 6. Needle valve, 7. Homogenizer, 8. Chromatographic column. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described in this application are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0015] See Figure 1The chromatographic column packing system includes a pneumatic booster pump 3, a pressure regulating valve 5, a homogenizer 7, and a chromatographic column tube 8; it also includes a needle valve 6 connected in parallel with the pressure regulating valve 5, the adjustment accuracy of the needle valve 6 being higher than that of the pressure regulating valve 5; compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic booster pump 3 after being regulated by the parallel pressure regulating valve 5 and the needle valve 6, respectively, to pressurize the liquid flowing through the pneumatic booster pump; the chromatographic column tube is sealed to the outlet of the homogenizer, and the pressurized liquid directly forces the homogenate in the homogenizer into the chromatographic column tube.

[0016] In this embodiment, the adjustment accuracy of needle valve 6 is about 10 psi, and the adjustment accuracy of pressure regulating valve 5 is about 500 psi. The adjustment accuracy of needle valve 6 is higher than that of pressure regulating valve 5. The compressed air flowing through pressure regulating valve 5 and needle valve 6 is supplied to pneumatic booster pump 3 via tee and air inlet pipe 4.

[0017] In this embodiment, the chromatographic column can be made of stainless steel, and the inlet of the chromatographic column is connected to the outlet of the homogenizing tank by a thread and can be sealed by a sealing element; the sealing element includes a sealing ring.

[0018] The suspension formed by mixing the chromatographic packing material with the homogenizing solvent is degassed and contained in a homogenizing tank. Before the packing material settles, the pressurized liquid forces the homogenize in the homogenizing tank into the chromatographic column.

[0019] Compared to existing technologies, where the pressure regulating valve has low pressure regulation accuracy and the liquid output from the pneumatic booster pump is pressurized in a step-like manner, the packing of the chromatographic column is not uniform, affecting the column efficiency and / or peak shape.

[0020] Using the column packing system described in this application, the pressure of the liquid output from the pneumatic booster pump 3 changes in an approximately S-shaped curve to achieve smooth and stable pressurization, gradually and stably increasing the pressure from 1000-2000 psi to a maximum of 12000 psi. The packed chromatographic packing material is evenly distributed without voids, and the packed column has good compactness, which improves the peak shape and column efficiency.

[0021] In other embodiments, to further increase the pressure stability of the output liquid, the pressurized liquid can be output to the homogenizing tank via a vibration damper, the vibration damper including a spiral-shaped liquid outlet pipe 2 or a serpentine-shaped liquid outlet pipe 2.

[0022] In some embodiments, the homogenizing tank can be independently fixed by a bracket and set separately from the pneumatic booster pump; or the homogenizing tank can be fixed to one side of the pneumatic booster pump housing, with the pneumatic booster pump housing providing support for the homogenizing tank; and the chromatographic column tube can be fixed below the homogenizing tank.

[0023] The column packing system described in this application can pack not only liquid chromatography columns but also capillary columns.

Claims

1. A chromatographic column packing system, comprising a pneumatic booster pump, a pressure regulating valve, a homogenizer, and chromatographic column tubing; characterized in that: It also includes at least one needle valve connected in parallel with the pressure regulating valve, the adjustment accuracy of the needle valve being higher than that of the pressure regulating valve; the compressed air is adjusted by the parallel pressure regulating valve and at least one needle valve respectively and then combined and supplied to the pneumatic booster pump to pressurize the liquid flowing through the pneumatic booster pump. The chromatographic column is sealed to the outlet of the homogenizing tank, and the pressurized liquid directly forces the homogenate in the homogenizing tank into the chromatographic column. The pressurized liquid is output to the homogenizing tank via a vibration damper.

2. The chromatographic column packing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shock absorber includes a spiral-shaped pipeline; the pressurized liquid is output to the homogenizing tank through the spiral-shaped pipeline.

3. The chromatographic column packing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The homogenizing tank is independently fixed by a bracket; or the homogenizing tank is fixed to one side of the pneumatic booster pump housing.

4. The chromatographic column packing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet of the homogenizer is threadedly connected to and sealed to the inlet of the chromatographic column.

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