Chromatographic systems for size exclusion chromatography (SEC) are provided that comprise an inlet, an outlet, an analytic column having a first interior volume that has a first length and a first cross-sectional area normal to the first length, the first interior volume containing a first stationary phase, and a guard column having a second interior volume that has a second length and a second cross-sectional area normal to the second length, the second interior volume containing a second stationary phase. The inlet is in fluid communication with the guard column, the guard column is in fluid communication with the analytic column, and the analytic column is in fluid communication with the outlet. Moreover, the second length is smaller than the first length, and the second cross-sectional area is smaller than the first cross-sectional area.

The invention provides for mammalian cells capable of producing recombinant CTLA4-Ig and variants thereof. The invention also provides for compositions comprising CTLA4-Ig and formulations thereof. The invention further provides for methods for mass-producing CTLA4-Ig from mammalian cells capable of producing this recombinant protein, and for purifying the CTLA4-Ig.

The invention provides for mammalian cells capable of producing recombinant CTLA4-Ig and variants thereof. The invention also provides for compositions comprising CTLA4-Ig and formulations thereof. The invention further provides for methods for mass-producing CTLA4-Ig from mammalian cells capable of producing this recombinant protein, and for purifying the CTLA4-Ig.

A gas chromatography system can include a circulatory loop, a gas inlet positioned along the circulatory loop, a gas outlet positioned along the circulatory loop, a micro column positioned in line with the circulatory loop, and an in-line population sensor positioned in line with the circulatory loop. The in-line population sensor can be configured to detect changes in gas population. The gas inlet and gas outlet can be associated with a gas inlet valve and gas outlet valve, and configured to admit or withdraw gas from the circulatory loop, respectively. A gas sample can be circulated through the circulatory loop for at least one cycle, and a component of the gas sample can be detected using the in-line population sensor.

A multi-capillary column pre-concentration trap for use in various chromatography techniques (e.g., gas chromatography (GC) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS)) is disclosed. In some examples, the trap can include a plurality of capillary columns connected in series in order of increasing strength (i.e., increasing chemical affinity for one or more sample compounds). A sample can enter the trap, flowing from a sample vial to a relatively weak column to the relatively strongest column of the trap by way of any additional columns included in the trap, for example. In some examples, the trap can be heated and backflushed so that the sample exits the trap through the head of the relatively weak column. Next, the sample can be injected into a chemical analysis device for performing the chromatography technique (e.g., GC or GCMS) or it can be injected into a secondary multi-capillary column trap for further concentration.

A method of producing substantially pure rare earth elements (REEs) from a mixture, including the steps of dissolving a mixture containing REEs in a strong acid to result in a dissolved mixture of metal ions, including that of REEs, capturing metal ions of REEs in a first set of chromatographic columns comprising strong acid cation exchange resins, washing said first set of chromatographic columns with a salt solution to remove non-adsorbing metal ions, eluting metal ions of REES from said first set of chromatographic columns with a first ligand solution to result in a solution of enriched metal ions of REEs, loading said solution of enriched metal ions of REEs onto a second set of chromatographic columns, and eluting bound metal ions of REEs stepwise from said second set of chromatographic columns using a second ligand solution to afford a substantially pure REE. The second set of chromatographic columns comprises hydrous polyvalent metal oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, or SnO.sub.2. The ligand of the second ligand solution coordinates with said hydrous polyvalent metal oxide.

A gas analysis device suited for e.g. medical analysis of exhaled breath from a subject. A gas inlet receives a gas sample to a flow path for guiding the gas sample to two or more gas separators, e.g. gas chromatography columns, with respective molecule selectivity properties which are different. One or more detectors, each with a sensor, are arranged to generate respective responses to outputs from the two or more gas separators. A communication module generate output data in response to the respective responses from the one or more detectors, e.g. data indicative of selected molecules in the gas sample, e.g. data indicative of one or more diseases identified as a result of identified biomarkers in the gas sample. The device is suitable as a compact device, e.g. a handheld breath analysis device, since the use of a plurality of gas separators allows use of very molecule specific gas separators which can be implemented with a small size. E.g. a flow path with several parallel paths each comprising one or more gas separator may be used.

The invention provides an apparatus and system for the separation and optional analysis of the components of a sample of material, the apparatus and system comprising a cartridge comprising: at least one sample inlet port, at least one resin inlet port and a multiplicity of reagent and purge fluid input ports which are fluidically connected via a multiplicity of control valves to a multiplicity of chromatographic columns which are fluidically connected together in series; and a multiplicity of outlet ports wherein each outlet port additionally comprises an outlet valve which is adapted to control the flow of fluid through said outlet ports; wherein each of said multiplicity of chromatographic columns is aligned with one of said multiplicity of outlet ports so as to allow for fluid flow from said column through said outlet port. The system optionally additionally facilitates the analysis of the components. The invention additionally provides a method for the separation of the components of a sample of material which comprises the use of the apparatus and system of the invention. The apparatus, system and method of the invention are advantageously applied to the separation and analysis of radioactive materials.

A progressive cellular architectures has been presented for vapor-phase chemical analyzers. The progressive cellular architecture consists of a series of heterogeneous micro-gas chromatography cells. Each individual cell targets vapor species within a specific volatility range by using a unique combination of a preconcentrator and a separation column. The cells are connected progressively in series to cover a broad range of volatile analyte chemical vapors. Valves may inadvertently absorb or adsorb and subsequently release target chemical analyte molecules, thereby interfering with quantitative analysis. Therefore, the inlet to the cells is configured without a valve.

A parallel assembly (2; 11; 51) of chromatography column modules (3a,b,c; 13a,b,c; 53a,b,c, 90a, b) connected in a rigid housing (21; 61), the assembly having one common assembly inlet (15; 55) and one common assembly outlet (17; 57), each column module comprising a bed space (29) filled with chromatography medium and each column module comprises integrated fluid conduits which when the column module is connected with other column modules in the rigid housing are adapted to connect the bed space (29) of the column module with the assembly inlet (15; 55) and the assembly outlet (17; 57), wherein the total length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the assembly inlet to one bed space together with the length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the same bed space to the assembly outlet is substantially the same for all bed spaces and modules installed in the parallel assembly.