CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMN ADAPTER AND USE FOR FLUIDIC CONNECTIONS

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a chromatography column adapter for establishing a fluidic connection between a chromatography column and a GC component. The present disclosure also relates to fluidic connections for a gas chromatography system.

Claims

[1] Chromatography column adapter for fluidically connecting a column to a GC component, the adapter comprising: a GC component connection end and a column receiving end; an adapter body with a wide adapter bore at the column receiving end and a narrow adapter bore at the GC component connection end, an outer conical sealing surface at the GC component connection end; and an inner conical sealing surface at the column receiving end of the wide adapter bore; wherein the narrow adapter bore forms at least part of a flow path through the adapter to the GC component. [2] The chromatography column adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter does not include a separate tube within the narrow adapter bore. [3] The chromatography column adapter of claim 1, wherein the column receiving end is configured to receive a column having an outer diameter of about 1 / 16 inch to about 3 / 8 inch. [4] The chromatography column adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter body has a tapered adapter bore connecting the wide and narrow adapter bores. [5] The chromatography column adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter body further comprises an intermediate adapter bore between the narrow adapter bore and the wide adapter bore. [6] The chromatography column adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter body comprises an outer adapter wall and an inner adapter wall, the inner adapter wall defining the wide adapter bore and the narrow adapter bore. [7] The chromatography column adapter of claim 6, wherein the outer adapter wall at the GC component connection end has a thread for engaging a thread on the GC component to exert a compressive force on the outer conical sealing surface. [8] Chromatography column adapter according to claim 6, wherein the outer adapter wall has a thread at the column receiving end. [9] The chromatography column adapter of claim 6, further comprising a coating on the inner adapter wall, the coating being configured to reduce interactions with analytes. [10] The chromatography column adapter of claim 1, further comprising a coating on the outer conical sealing surface, the coating being such that it facilitates the manufacture of a seal. [11] The chromatography column adapter of claim 1, wherein the outer conical sealing surface has a boss end enclosing the narrow adapter bore and a boss sidewall extending between the boss end and a remainder of the adapter body. [12] The chromatography column adapter of claim 11, wherein the projection sidewall is at an angle of 40 to 60 degrees with respect to the projection end. [13] The chromatography column adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter body further comprises an engagement feature. [14] The chromatography column adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is formed from stainless steel or brass. [15] Chromatography column adapter assembly comprising: a chromatography column having a chromatography column end; and a chromatography column adapter according to claim 1; and a GC component with a GC component flow path; wherein the chromatography column end is arranged in the wide adapter bore and the GC component connection end of the chromatography column adapter is fluidly connected to the flow path of the GC component. [16] The chromatography column assembly of claim 15, wherein the chromatography column is a packed column. [17] Chromatography column assembly according to claim 15, wherein the fluidic connection is made without a separate tube within the narrow adapter bore. [18] The chromatography column assembly of claim 15, wherein the GC component comprises a GC inlet, a GC detector, or a chromatography fluid device for backflushing, switching, or splitting the fluid flow. [19] The chromatography column assembly of claim 15, wherein the flow path of the GC component and the narrow adapter bore have substantially the same cross-sectional area. [20] A method for establishing a fluidic connection between a chromatography column and a GC component, the method comprising: Attaching a chromatography column adapter according to claim 1 to a GC component to form a seal between the outer conical sealing surface of the column adapter and an inner conical sealing surface of the GC component; Passing one end of the chromatography column through a clamp sleeve and a nut; Insert the column into the wide adapter hole of the adapter; Inserting a clamping sleeve into the inner conical sealing surface; and Attach the column to the adapter by applying force to the clamp sleeve to form a seal between the clamp sleeve and the chromatography column adapter and the chromatography column.

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