liquid chromatography

Abstract

The purpose of the present disclosure is to mitigate disadvantages resulting from placing a liquid container in a high position in a liquid chromatograph for analyzing a sample using a liquid. A liquid chromatograph according to the present disclosure comprises a first container that contains a liquid, a first pump that feeds the liquid from the first container to a second container, and a second pump that supplies the liquid contained in the second container to an analysis unit, wherein the second container is disposed such that the bottom surface of the liquid in the second container is located above a liquid suction port of the second pump in the direction of gravitational force (see FIG. 1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid chromatograph that analyzes a liquid using a separation column.

Background Art

[0002] In a liquid chromatograph, a solvent is used when separating a sample. The solvent is stored in a solvent bottle, and in general, gravity is used to deliver the solvent from the solvent bottle. Therefore, the liquid chromatograph is installed at a position higher in the gravitational direction than the liquid delivery pump (e.g., Claim 1 of Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the solvent bottle (liquid container) is installed at a high position, the following problems occur: (a) It may cause a device failure when the solvent spills; (b) When replacing the solvent bottle, it is necessary to carry a heavy object to a high position, so there are concerns in terms of workability and safety; (c) Constraints occur in the device layout due to the position of the solvent bottle.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to alleviate the disadvantages associated with installing a liquid container at a high position in a liquid chromatograph that analyzes a sample using a liquid.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The liquid chromatograph according to this disclosure comprises a first container for containing a liquid, a first pump for transferring the liquid from the first container to a second container, and a second pump for supplying the liquid contained in the second container to the analysis unit, wherein the second container is positioned such that the bottom surface of the liquid inside the second container is located above the liquid inlet of the second pump in the direction of gravity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the inconveniences associated with placing the liquid container at a high position in a liquid chromatograph used to analyze a sample using a liquid can be mitigated. Other features, advantages, and configurations of this disclosure will become clear when you refer to the detailed description below. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows the overall configuration of the liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is a side view of the liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1 according to Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] <Embodiment 1: Apparatus Configuration> This disclosure relates to a liquid chromatograph, but the following embodiments will describe a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer in which the liquid chromatograph is connected to a mass spectrometer as an example.

[0010] Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1, in which a liquid chromatograph according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is connected to a mass spectrometer. The liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1 is a device that separates a sample by liquid chromatography and performs analytical processing such as mass spectrometry, and comprises a first solvent bottle 111 (first container), a first auxiliary pump 112 (first pump), a first reservoir 113 (second container), a first liquid delivery pump 114 (second pump), a sample injection unit 131, a separation column 132, and a detection unit 133.

[0011] The sample injection unit 131 receives the sample and each solvent and supplies them to the separation column 132. The separation column 132 performs the separation process, and the detection unit 133 analyzes the sample by performing mass spectrometry.

[0012] The first solvent bottle 111 contains the first solvent. The first solvent bottle 111 is positioned in a location easily accessible to the user so that the user can replenish the first solvent in the first solvent bottle 111 or replace the first solvent bottle 111 itself. If the first solvent bottle 111 is positioned high in the direction of gravity, the following problems arise: (a) spills of the solvent may cause equipment failure; (b) when replacing the solvent bottle, it is necessary to carry a heavy object to a high position, raising concerns in terms of workability and safety; (c) the position of the solvent bottle imposes constraints on the equipment layout. Therefore, it is desirable to position the first solvent bottle 111 in a relatively low position within the liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1.

[0013] The first reservoir 113 contains the first solvent to be supplied to the sample injection unit 131. The first liquid delivery pump 114 adjusts the amount of the first solvent supplied to the sample injection unit 131. The first solvent is delivered from the first reservoir 113 to the first liquid delivery pump 114 by gravity acting on it. Therefore, there is a height difference of ΔH1 in the direction of gravity between the liquid inlet of the first liquid delivery pump 114 and the bottom surface of the first reservoir 113. The bottom surface of the first reservoir 113 is higher. The first liquid delivery pump 114 only needs to be able to deliver the first solvent from the first reservoir 113 to the sample injection unit 131, and does not need to deliver the first solvent in the opposite direction, so it does not need to have such a function.

[0014] The first reservoir 113 is positioned relatively high within the liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1 in order to deliver the first solvent from the first reservoir 113 to the first delivery pump 114 by gravity. Therefore, the first reservoir 113 is positioned above the first solvent bottle 111. The first auxiliary pump 112 delivers the first solvent from the first solvent bottle 111 to the first reservoir 113.

[0015] Since the first solvent contained in the first reservoir 113 is used inside the liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 1, it is not necessary for the user to have easy access to the first reservoir 113 in order to replenish the first solvent. Therefore, the first reservoir 113 may be located in a place inside the liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 1 that is inaccessible to the user (e.g., where the seal must be broken to access it).

[0016] When multiple solvents are used for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, a configuration similar to the first solvent bottle 111, first auxiliary pump 112, first reservoir 113, and first liquid delivery pump 114 can be arranged for each solvent. Figure 1 shows an example in which a second solvent bottle 121, second auxiliary pump 122, second reservoir 123, and second liquid delivery pump 124 are arranged to supply the second solvent. The gravity-direction distance ΔH2 between the liquid inlet and the bottom of the reservoir may be the same as or different from ΔH1.

[0017] <Embodiment 1: Summary> In the liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1 according to this embodiment 1, the first auxiliary pump 112 delivers the first solvent from the first solvent bottle 111 to the first reservoir 113, and the bottom surface of the first solvent contained in the first reservoir 113 is located above the liquid inlet of the first liquid delivery pump 114 in the direction of gravity. This allows the first solvent to be delivered to the first liquid delivery pump 114 by gravity, while the user can easily access the first solvent bottle 111. Therefore, the following problems can be suppressed: (a) Spilling the solvent can cause equipment failure; (b) When changing the solvent bottle, it is necessary to carry heavy objects to a high position, raising concerns in terms of workability and safety; (c) The position of the solvent bottle imposes constraints on the equipment layout.

[0018] Specifically, this can be explained as follows: Since the first solvent bottle 111 is located relatively low down within the liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 1, even if the first solvent spills when replenishing or replacing the first solvent bottle 111, there is a low probability that the first solvent will come into contact with other devices or components within the liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 1. Furthermore, when replenishing or replacing the first solvent bottle 111, there is no need to push it up to a high position, so work efficiency and safety are not reduced. Moreover, since the position of the first solvent bottle 111 is not limited to the upper part of the liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 1, there are fewer constraints on the layout of each device and component within the liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 1. Therefore, the above effects can be achieved.

[0019] <Embodiment 2> Figure 2 is a side view of a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1 in which a liquid chromatograph according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure is connected to a mass spectrometer. Each solvent bottle, each reservoir, the analysis section from the sample injection unit 131 onwards, etc., are housed within the housing of the liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1. The first solvent bottle 111 and the second solvent bottle 121 are housed in a relatively lower space, and the first reservoir 113 and the second reservoir 123 are housed in a relatively upper space. The space that houses each reservoir is referred to as the housing section 14.

[0020] The storage unit 14 is composed of, for example, shelves and drawers, and is sealed with a sealing member such as a screw. Therefore, the user cannot easily access each reservoir stored in the storage unit 14. For example, in regular maintenance work, the worker can access each reservoir in the storage unit 14 only when the worker unscrews and opens the storage unit 14.

[0021] The liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 1 may include a weight sensor in order to control the timing of replenishing the solvent from the solvent bottle to the reservoir. In FIG. 2, the weight sensor 141 measures the weight of the first reservoir 113, and the weight sensor 142 measures the weight of the second reservoir 123. When the weight of the first reservoir 113 becomes less than the threshold value, it means that the amount of the first solvent in the first reservoir 113 has decreased. When the weight of the first reservoir 113 becomes less than the threshold value, the first auxiliary pump 112 supplies the first solvent from the first solvent bottle 111 to the first reservoir 113. The same operation is performed when the weight of the second reservoir 123 measured by the weight sensor 142 becomes less than the threshold value. Thereby, the operation of replenishing the solvent from the solvent bottle to the reservoir can be automated. The operation of the auxiliary pump may be controlled by an appropriate control device or the like, or the auxiliary pump itself may be configured to control its own operation.

[0022] <Regarding the modifications of the present disclosure> The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present disclosure, and do not necessarily need to include all the configurations described. Also, a part of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. Also, the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Also, for a part of the configuration of each embodiment, a part of the configuration of another embodiment can be added, deleted, or replaced.

[0023] In the embodiments described above, a liquid chromatograph uses two types of solvents (a first solvent and a second solvent), and a storage unit 14 is used to store these two types of solvents. However, the number of solvent types is not limited to these, and this disclosure can be applied when any type of solvent is used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1: Liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer 111: First vasocontainer bottle 112: First auxiliary pump 113: First Reservoir 114: First liquid transfer pump 131: Sample injection section 132: Separation column 133: Detection unit

Claims

1. A liquid chromatograph for analyzing samples, A first container for containing the liquid used to separate the aforementioned sample, A first pump that transfers the liquid from the first container to the second container, A second pump for removing the liquid contained in the second container from the second container. Equipped with, The second container is positioned such that the bottom surface of the liquid inside the second container is located above the liquid inlet of the second pump in the direction of gravity. The first container is configured such that the user can either replace the first container or refill the first container with the liquid, The first container is positioned below the second container in the direction of gravity. The second container is located in a position that cannot be directly accessed by the user. A liquid chromatograph characterized by the following features.

2. The second container is positioned so that gravity acting on the liquid inside the second container can transfer the liquid from the second container to the second pump. The liquid chromatograph according to feature 1.

3. The second container is housed within the housing section of the liquid chromatograph. The aforementioned housing is sealed by a sealing member, so that it cannot be directly accessed by the user. The liquid chromatograph according to feature 1.

4. The liquid chromatograph further includes a sensor for measuring the weight of the second container containing the liquid. The first pump transfers the liquid from the first container to the second container when the weight is below a threshold. The liquid chromatograph according to feature 1.

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