In one aspect, a method for automated analysis of samples from a bioreactor is provided herein, the method including: drawing at least one sample from a bioreactor; pressurizing the drawn at least one sample into a sample flow; purifying at least one target protein in the sample flow using a first liquid chromatography apparatus to create a purified sample flow; splitting the purified sample flow into a purified sample fraction flow and an effluent flow; and, analyzing the at least one target protein in the purified sample fraction flow using a second liquid chromatography apparatus. Advantageously, the subject invention provides for an automated two-step liquid chromatography process utilizing first dimension liquid chromatography for purification and second dimension liquid chromatography for analysis.

A chromatography analysis system includes a liquid delivery pump (2), an autosampler (4), a separation column (12), a column oven (6), a detector (8). The chromatography analysis system further comprising a shutdown execution part (22) configured to start shutdown to finally stop driving of the liquid delivery pump (2) and temperature control operation of the column oven (6) at a time when a predetermined situation occurs, by controlling operation of the liquid delivery pump (2) and the column oven (6), and a column protection temperature setter (24) configured to set a column protection temperature for preventing deterioration of the separation column (12) due to overheating. The shutdown execution part (22) is configured to stop driving of the heater (14) in a state where the liquid delivery pump (2) is driven when the shutdown is started, and then, stop driving of the liquid delivery pump (2) after a temperature of the internal space detected by the temperature sensor (18) becomes equal to or less than the column protection temperature.

The present disclosure relates to techniques for detecting leaks in a pump. A compressed fluid, such as compressed CO.sub.2, is provided through a first channel formed within a pump head. The compressed fluid within the first channel is in contact with at least a portion of a pump piston, and the first channel is substantially sealed using a fluid seal positioned around a portion of the pump piston. A wash fluid is pumped into a second channel formed within a wash seal housing associated with the pump head using a fluid pump. The wash fluid within the second channel surrounds a portion of the pump piston and is separated from the first channel by the fluid seal. A flow rate of fluid exiting the wash seal housing via the second channel is measured, and the existence of a leak is determined based on the measured flow rate.

The invention provides a liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer which prevents contamination of a pump and a column and can perform mass calibration without adding a complicated mechanism. This liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer includes a liquid chromatograph including a liquid feed pump configured to feed a mobile phase solvent, a mass spectrometer configured to analyze a mass of a sample, and a standard sample container configured to be connected in series with the liquid chromatograph and the mass spectrometer in a flow path that connects the liquid chromatograph and the mass spectrometer and configured to house a standard sample for mass calibration.

A liquid chromatographic apparatus which removes air bubbles during preparatory operation for apparatus startup which includes a liquid feeding pump to feed a solvent, an injector to inject a sample into the solvent, a separation column to receive the solvent and the sample through the injector and separate the sample into components, a detector to detect the components supplied from the separation column, a pressure sensor to measure a pressure in a solvent flow channel of the liquid feeding pump, and a controller to control a purge operation for removing air bubbles in the solvent flow channel by the liquid feeding pump, judges whether a pressure change amount in the solvent flow channel measured by the pressure sensor during the purge operation is a specified change amount or larger, and completes the air bubble removal operation when the pressure change amount is the specified change amount or larger.

An on-line system that performs concentration and solvent exchange in order to improve a detection level of analytes by a liquid chromatograph (LC) is provided. The on-line system comprises: a first pump and a second pump for supplying a solvent; a liquid chromatograph (LC) including a separation column (SC) connected to the first pump; a trapping column (TC) for collecting the analytes separated from the separation column; a concentration column (CC) for concentrating the analytes collected in the trapping column (TC); a detector; and first to third switching valves that communicate fluid with at least one of the first or second pumps. An analysis method using the same is also provided.

A system capable of performing both single and multidimensional liquid chromatography includes a solvent delivery system, a sample injection system, a first dimension column path configured to perform a separation process in a first dimension, a second dimension column path configured to perform a separation process in a second dimension that is different than the first dimension, a valve system; and a sample injection system fluidically connected to the valve system. The valve system is configured to direct flow from a sample injection system to a first dimension column path when the valve system is in a first position, and to direct flow from the sample injection system to the second dimension column path without the flow path flowing through the first dimension column path in the chromatography system when the valve system is in a second position.

There is provided a method of operating a liquid chromatography arrangement, the liquid chromatography arrangement comprising: a solvent pump arranged to flow a liquid solvent over a liquid chromatography column; a restrictor arranged to restrict the liquid solvent from leaving the liquid chromatography column; and a liquid pump arranged to provide liquid flow between the liquid chromatography column and the restrictor, the method comprising: flowing the liquid solvent through the liquid chromatography column using the solvent pump; and controlling a liquid pressure within the liquid chromatography column by providing a liquid flow between the liquid chromatography column and the restrictor using the liquid pump.

A method for determining a state of a fluidic system can include measuring back pressures in the fluidic system at different times and determining a state of the fluidic system. The determination is based on at least the measured back pressures and on additional status information indicative of at least one status of the fluidic system at at least one of the different times.

An analytical system comprises a chromatography column configured to separate a sample into one or more analytes; an ion removal device configured to remove at least ions of one charge from the mobile phase, the ion removal device fluidly coupled to an output of the chromatography column; an ion selective sensor configured to measure a signal corresponding to an activity of the ions of one charge in the mobile phase, the ion selective sensor fluidly coupled to an output of the ion removal device; an optional diverter valve that can interrupt the flow of the mobile phase; and a microprocessor configured to monitor the signal of the ion selective sensor and to either switch the optional diverter valve to interrupt the flow of the mobile phase or turn off the pump when the signal is greater than a predetermined threshold.