Pump Unit Metal Ion Trap for Chromatograph Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid chromatographs face challenges in maintaining analysis accuracy at high pressures due to interactions between metal components and samples, leading to adsorption and degradation of results.
Innovation Solution
A pump unit with a metal ion trap and filter element is integrated into the flow path, using a metal member for high-pressure pumping and a filter element with a metal ion retention structure to retain metal ions, while non-metallic materials are used for components that come into contact with the sample to prevent interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a metal member is used in the pump for high-pressure pumping, then the pumping capability at high pressure is improved, but metal ions interact with the sample causing adsorption and degradation of analysis accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional zones: the pump uses metal members for high-pressure pumping, while a metal ion trap with filter element is inserted in the flow path to remove metal ions before the sample contact portion. This segmentation allows metal to be used where mechanically necessary while preventing its harmful interaction with samples downstream.
Solution Approach 2:
A metal ion trap containing a filter element with metal ion retention structure acts as an intermediary between the metal pump components and the sample contact portion. This intermediary captures metal ions released by the pump, preventing them from reaching and interacting with the sample, thus resolving the contradiction between using metal for pressure and avoiding metal for accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If non-metallic materials are used for sample contact portions, then interaction between metal and sample is prevented, but it becomes difficult to maintain analysis accuracy when pumping at high pressure equal to or larger than 40 MPa
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into a high-pressure generation zone (metal pump), a purification zone (metal ion trap), and a sample analysis zone (non-metallic sample contact portions). This segmentation enables the system to achieve both high pressure capability and maintained analysis accuracy by placing the metal ion trap between the metal pump and sample contact portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal ion trap serves as a protective intermediary that enables the use of non-metallic materials in sample contact portions while still achieving high-pressure pumping. By removing metal ions before they reach the sample contact portion, the system can use non-metallic materials without sacrificing pressure capability, thus resolving the contradiction.
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
This configuration allows for high-pressure liquid pumping while preventing analysis accuracy degradation by retaining metal ions and minimizing adsorption, peak tailing, and retention characteristic changes in the chromatograph.
Implementation Method 1
the filter element includes a metal ion retention structure for retaining metal ions by interacting with the metal ions included in a mobile phase
Data Source
AI summary
A pump unit includes a pump and a metal ion trap. The pump includes a metal member that comes into contact with a mobile phase. The pump pumps a mobile phase through a flow path. The metal ion trap includes a filter element. The filter element includes a metal ion retention structure for retaining metal ions by interacting with the metal ions included in a mobile phase. The filter element is provided in the flow path for a mobile phase pumped by the pump. The pump unit may be provided in a chromatograph.