Liquid Chromatography Collector with Switch Valve for Peak Fractionation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid chromatography separation systems are unable to selectively collect the peak-beginning portion of a target component, leading to low-concentration samples being collected when the eluate volume exceeds the sample loop capacity, resulting in the front portion of the peak being lost and only the rear portion being collected.
Innovation Solution
A liquid chromatography separation system equipped with a sample injector, separation column, detector, collector with multiple sample loops, and a switch valve, controlled by a collection controller that detects the peak-beginning point and/or peak apex of the target component using detector signals to switch the valve and collect the corresponding portion within the sample loop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the sample loop volume is increased to collect more eluate, then the collection capacity is improved, but the system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the collection process into multiple sample loops instead of using a single large loop. Each sample loop collects a portion of the eluate, and multiple loops work in parallel to accumulate the complete target component profile. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high collection capacity without requiring any single loop to be excessively large, thereby controlling system complexity and space requirements.
2Measurement precision
If the switch valve is switched to collect the peak portion, then the target component concentration is improved, but the timing precision and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of the peak portion using a detector before the actual collection begins. The system detects the peak characteristics (position, height, width) in advance and uses this information to pre-calculate the optimal collection timing and duration. This preliminary action allows the switch valve to be activated at the precise moment when the peak eluate arrives at the sample loop, ensuring high concentration collection without requiring complex real-time control during the collection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback control where the detector continuously monitors the eluate composition and provides real-time information to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the switch valve timing to capture the peak portion accurately. The feedback mechanism ensures that even with varying flow rates and peak shapes, the system can precisely identify and collect the optimal portion, balancing measurement precision with controllable complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the collection timing is optimized to capture the peak apex, then the target component concentration is improved, but the loss of front portion eluate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collection process into multiple sequential steps using multiple sample loops. Instead of attempting to capture the entire peak in a single loop (which would require perfect timing and risk losing the front portion), the system divides the peak into segments and distributes them across multiple loops. Each loop captures a specific portion of the peak, and the cumulative result includes both the front portion and the apex, minimizing overall substance loss while maintaining concentration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary detection to identify the peak apex position and characteristics before collection begins. By knowing in advance where the peak apex will occur, the system can calculate the optimal collection start time that captures both the front portion and the apex. This pre-calculation based on detected peak parameters ensures that the collection window is precisely positioned, preventing loss of the front portion while accurately capturing the high-concentration apex region.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures that the peak-beginning point or peak apex of the target component is collected within the sample loop, preventing low-concentration samples from being collected and maintaining high concentration by controlling the switch valve operation based on detected peak points.
Implementation Method 1
a separator that is provided with a sample injector, a separation column and a detector on an analysis flow path through which a mobile phase flows and separates a sample injected into the analysis flow path by the sample injector into components
Implementation Method 2
a collection controller that is configured to detect a peak-beginning point and/or a peak apex of the target component based on a signal of the detector
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid chromatography separation system includes a separator, a collector, a switch valve and a collection controller. The collector has at least one sample loop and connects the sample loop to a position farther downstream than the separator and collect an eluate including a desired sample component among sample components obtained by separation in the separator in the sample loop. The switch valve switches between a state in which the separator is connected the sample loop and a state in which the separator is not connected to the sample loop. The collection controller is configured to control an operation of switching the switch valve and collect a predetermined amount, which is equal to or smaller than a volume of the sample loop, of an eluate including a desired sample component obtained by separation in the separator in the sample loop from a peak-beginning point of the sample component.