Importance

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Abstract

A multi-column liquid chromatography system (10) for performing a plurality of liquid chromatography separations in parallel is based on a column plate structure (12) having parallel grooves (20) formed in a surface (22) of a plate (18), a cover sheet (40) bonded to the surface (22) to cover the grooves (20) and a stationary phase (38) contained in each covered groove (20). Through holes (24, 26) in the plate (18) define respective inlets (24) for the chromatography columns (14) and flow cells (16) at outlets, with the cover sheet (40) providing an optically transparent end wall for the flow cells (16) and another cover sheet (42) bonded to the opposite surface (30) of the plate (18) providing the other optically transparent end wall for the flow cells (16). Thus merely three parts need be provided for a structure for providing the chromatography columns, that is, a plate having grooves and through holes plus two cover sheets. The chromatography system (10) additionally includes a pumping system (46) comprising a syringe pump (48) for each column (14), an optical system (28) for transmitting analytical radiation through the flow cells (16) and a fraction collection sheet (110) containing wells (112) which is fed past outlets (34-35) from the column plate structure (12).

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First Claim