Preparative Purification Apparatus With Timed Solvent Phase Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing preparative purification systems face issues with the mixing of elution solvent and mobile phase, leading to inaccurate or slow analysis processes due to varying solvent ratios in recovered solutions.
Innovation Solution
A preparative purification apparatus that adjusts the mixing ratio of mobile phase and elution solvent by controlling the recovery amounts of these solvents, using flow path switching valves and a control unit to ensure consistent solvent ratios in recovered solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the elution solvent is fed to the trap column to elute the target component, then the target component is recovered, but the elution solvent and mobile phase mix and suspend in the vicinity of the boundary, causing varying mixing ratios in the recovered solution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the recovery process into distinct phases: mobile phase recovery, elution solvent recovery, and mixed phase recovery. By using multiple recovery containers (first recovery container for mobile phase, second recovery container for elution solvent) and controlling the flow path switching valve, the system separates the recovery of different solvent phases, thereby maintaining consistent solvent ratios in the recovered solutions.
2Ease of manufacture
If evaporation and drying process is performed to remove solvent, then the target component can be stored and transported easily, but the process takes several hours to one day when water or water-containing solutions are used
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of following the conventional approach of evaporating and drying the solvent to obtain solid target components for storage, the patent inverts the approach by directly recovering and storing the target component in solution form. The system collects the eluted target component in recovery containers with controlled solvent compositions, eliminating the time-consuming evaporation and drying steps while maintaining the target component's usability for subsequent applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mixing ratio of mobile phase and elution solvent is varied in the recovered solution, then different solvent compositions are obtained, but accurate analysis cannot be performed or rapid process cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the flow path switching valve to adjust the recovery timing and duration for mobile phase and elution solvent. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the solvent mixing ratio in the recovered solution according to different analytical requirements, thereby achieving both adaptability in solvent composition and precision in analysis by controlling the recovery process parameters.
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
Enables accurate and rapid analysis by maintaining consistent solvent ratios, allowing for efficient recovery and use of target components in solution form without evaporation and drying processes.
Implementation Method 1
a preparative purification system using a liquid chromatograph is used for the purpose of collecting samples for storing various compounds obtained by chemical synthesis as libraries or analyzing various compounds in detail
Implementation Method 2
a solvent (elution solvent) is allowed to flow through each trap column to elute the target component captured in the column, thereby collecting a solution containing the target component in a container
Data Source
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Figure 3(a)~3(d)
AI summary
Provided is a preparative purification apparatus capable of adjusting a mixing ratio of a mobile phase and an elution solvent contained in a solution to be collected. By the preparative purification apparatus which includes a liquid feeding unit which feeds an elution solvent to an inlet of a trap column; a flow path switching unit which selectively connects an outlet of the trap column to one of a waste liquid flow path or a recovery flow path; a liquid feed amount measurement unit which measures an amount of the elution solvent fed to the trap column by the liquid feeding unit; and a flow path control unit which performs a control such that the flow path switching unit is connected to the recovery flow path at a timing when the amount of the elution solvent fed to the trap column reaches a predetermined initial waste liquid amount, and thereafter, the flow path switching unit is connected to the waste liquid flow path at a timing of reaching a predetermined solution recovery amount.