Liquid Chromatography Device with Solvent Dividing Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid chromatography devices face challenges in improving resolution and efficiency due to the same direction of sample injection and elution, requiring additional valves and pumps for back flushing, which complicates operations and increases malfunction risks, and struggle with sample complexity and desalting in biological samples containing detergents and salts.
Innovation Solution
A liquid chromatography device utilizing a T-shaped solvent dividing unit and a trap valve with a Z-shaped solvent flow path to modify solvent flow, allowing opposite directions for sample injection and elution without additional valves or pumps, enhancing resolution and incorporating on-line desalting for efficient peptide analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If additional valves and pumps are used to enable back flushing, then the sample injecting direction and eluting direction can be opposite, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the back flushing function with the existing solvent inlet valve by adding a solvent dividing unit. The solvent inlet valve is configured to communicate with both the solvent dividing unit and the mobile phase reservoir, allowing the same valve to perform both normal solvent delivery and back flushing operations without requiring additional valves or pumps.
Solution Approach 2:
The solvent dividing unit acts as an intermediary component that redirects solvent flow to achieve back flushing. It includes a first branch communicating with the solid phase extraction column and a second branch communicating with the reverse phase liquid chromatography column, enabling flexible flow direction control without additional actuating components.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional valves and pumps are used to enable back flushing, then the resolution is improved, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the back flushing function with the existing solvent inlet valve by adding a solvent dividing unit. The solvent inlet valve is configured to communicate with both the solvent dividing unit and the mobile phase reservoir, allowing the same valve to perform both normal solvent delivery and back flushing operations without requiring additional valves or pumps.
3Productivity
If a solid phase extraction column is used, then the sample loading time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the solid phase extraction column directly into the solvent flow path between the solvent dividing unit and the reverse phase liquid chromatography column. This allows the solid phase extraction column to perform sample concentration and desalting functions inline without requiring separate loading mechanisms or additional operational steps.
4Measurement precision
If on-line desalting is performed, then the detection sensitivity is improved, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs desalting continuously during the chromatographic separation process. The solvent flows continuously through the solid phase extraction column, reverse phase liquid chromatography column, and into the mass spectrometer without interruption. This eliminates separate desalting steps and maintains continuous analytical operation.
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
The device achieves improved resolution and efficiency by enabling back flushing without additional components, reducing operation complexity, and ensures high sensitivity and reproducibility in peptide analysis through effective desalting and sample handling.
Implementation Method 1
a solvent dividing unit dividing a flow of solvent discharged from the sample inlet valve into the first solvent inlet port and the second solvent inlet port of the trap valve
Implementation Method 2
on-line solid phase extraction/capillary reverse phase liquid chromatography has been regarded as a very important technological system in studying proteomes
Implementation Method 3
capillary reverse phase liquid chromatography has been regarded as a very important technological system in studying proteomes
Implementation Method 4
a trap valve provided with a Z-shaped solvent flow path to modify the flow of a solvent
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid chromatography device includes a sample inlet valve to which a sample to be analyzed is introduced, and a trap valve fluid-communicating with a solid phase extraction column and a reverse phase liquid chromatography column. The device further includes a solvent dividing unit dividing flow of a solvent discharged from the sample inlet valve into the first solvent inlet port and the second solvent inlet port of the trap valve. The liquid chromatography device improves resolution and increases reproducibility by allowing the sample injecting direction and the sample eluting direction to be opposite to each other.