Described is a chromatographic column assembly that includes an outer tube comprising a metal, a first conduit disposed within the outer tube, a second conduit disposed within the outer tube, and a first joint located between the first conduit and the second conduit. The outer tube is deformed by a first uniform radial crimp at a longitudinal location along the outer tube that surrounds the first conduit on a first side of the first joint, and a second uniform radial cramp at a longitudinal location along the outer tube that surrounds the second conduit on a second side of the first joint. The first and second uniform radial cramps form a fluid-tight seal between the first conduit and the second conduit and each have a substantially flat base region over which a diameter of the outer tube is reduced for a non-zero longitudinal length.

A clamp for chromatography columns has a first seal with a first opening a movable seal with a second opening and a movable coupler. The movable coupler has first and second coupler seals with communicating third and fourth openings. The clamp is arranged for pressing a first chromatography column between the first seal and the first coupler seal and for pressing a second chromatography column between the movable seal and the second coupler seal, such that the first opening fluidly communicates with the second opening through the first chromatography column, the third and fourth openings and the second chromatography column.

The present application is directed to multidimensional liquid chromatography (LC) systems. In certain aspects, provided is a multidimensional LC system comprising a digestion module having a digestion column containing an immobilized proteolytic enzyme, a trapping module having a trapping column for holding the sample after digestion in the digestion module, and a separation module having a separation column for separating analytes in the sample after release of the sample from the trapping column. In certain aspects, in the direction of flow through the LC systems described herein, the modules are in the following order: digestion module; trapping module, and then separation module.

A clinical diagnostic system is presented and comprises a sample preparation station for automatically preparing samples comprising analytes of interest, a liquid chromatography (LC) separation station comprising a plurality of LC channels and a sample preparation/LC interface for inputting prepared samples into the LC channels. The system further comprises a controller to assign samples to pre-defined sample preparation workflows each comprising a pre-defined sequence of sample preparation steps and requiring a pre-defined time for completion depending on the analytes. The controller further assigns an LC channel for each prepared sample depending on the analytes and plans an LC channel input sequence for inputting the prepared samples that allows analytes from different LC channels to elute in a non-overlapping LC eluate output sequence based on expected elution times. The controller further sets and initiates a start sequence that generates a prepared sample output sequence that matches the LC channel input sequence.

A dispersed mobile-phase countercurrent chromatography system is described in which solutes are carried by a stream of dispersed mobile phase solvent through a column, or array of serially-connected columns, of stationary phase solvent with which the mobile phase solvent is immiscible. Solutes carried along by the stream of dispersed mobile-phase solvent will be equilibrated between the mobile-phase solvent and the stationary-phase solvent. Because the mobile-phase is dispersed into mini-droplets much smaller in diameter than the column of stationary phase, the enhanced surface/volume ratio of the droplets expedites countercurrent equilibration of different solutes between the mobile-phase solvent and the stationary-phase solvent in accordance with the distribution-coefficients of the solutes between the two solvents. As a result, a solute with a distribution coefficient that favors its dissolving in the stationary phase will be retarded in its migration through the columns compared to a solute with a distribution coefficient that favors its dissolving in the mobile phase. The different migration rates of different solutes bring about their chromatographic separation on the columns, effectively combining the advantages of countercurrent distribution (e.g., elimination of any solid chromatographic matrix, and therefore losses of solutes due to adsorption to the solid matrix and contamination of separated solutes by impurities leached from the solid matrix) and liquid column chromatography (e.g., continuous mode of operation, and scalable from analytical to large industrial separations without any centrifugal or discontinuous mechanical steps).

A clamp for chromatography columns has a first seal with a first opening a movable seal with a second opening and a movable coupler. The movable coupler has first and second coupler seals with communicating third and fourth openings. The clamp is arranged for pressing a first chromatography column between the first seal and the first coupler seal and for pressing a second chromatography column between the movable seal and the second coupler seal, such that the first opening fluidly communicates with the second opening through the first chromatography column, the third and fourth openings and the second chromatography column.

A low dead-volume connector for fluid chromatography, such as liquid chromatography and gas chromatography, has a female assembly including a receiving member being designed and configured to receive, and releasably interlock with, a male assembly. The connector is particularly suited for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) applications.

A cyclic chromatographic purification method for the isolation of a product from a feed mixture consisting of the product and at least one further component representing impurities, which impurities bind stronger to the chromatographic stationary phase than the product is given. The method uses at least two chromatographic adsorbers as chromatographic stationary phase, grouped into only one first adsorber section (1) and one second adsorber section (2), wherein if an adsorber section comprises more than one chromatographic adsorber these are permanently connected in series, wherein the first adsorber section (1) has a first adsorber section inlet and a first adsorber section outlet, and the second adsorber section (1) has a second adsorber section inlet and a second adsorber section outlet.

The disclosed system and method improve measurement of trace volatile chemicals, such as by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). A first trapping system can include a plurality of capillary columns in series and a focusing column fluidly coupled to a first detector. The first trapping system can retain and separate compounds in a sample, including C3 hydrocarbons and compounds heavier than C3 hydrocarbons (e.g., up to C12 hydrocarbons, or compounds having a boiling point around 250 C.), and can transfer the compounds from the focusing column to the first detector. A second trapping system can receive compounds that the first trapping system does not retain, and can include a packed trap and two columns. The second trapping system can remove water from the sample and can separate and detect compounds including C2 hydrocarbons and Formaldehyde.

A separation column connecting device includes: a column holder for retaining a separation column; a first fitting holder carrying a first fitting which includes a seal portion to be connected to an upstream seal portion of the separation column and connected with an upstream pipe; a second fitting holder carrying a second fitting which includes a seal portion to be connected to a downstream seal portion of the separation column and connected with a downstream pipe; a body member to which either one of the first fitting holder and the second fitting holder is fixed; a driver for moving, relative to the body member, the first fitting holder or the second fitting holder not fixed to the body member; a guide for guiding the column holder in a direction of movement driven by the driver; and an elastic body disposed between the column holder and the second fitting holder.