An online measuring system for the semi-volatile organic compounds in the gas phase is provided in the disclosure. The system comprises a filter head, a three-way electromagnetic valve, an enrichment-thermal desorption device, a two-position six-way valve, a mass flow controller, a gas pump, a gas chromatograph, a primary capture trap, a secondary focus trap, and a gas supply and pressure control system, the inlet of the filter head is connected to be provided with a sampling object, the outlet of the filter head is connected with the port B of the three-way electromagnetic valve through a passivated stainless steel tube, the port C of the three-way electromagnetic valve is connected with the inlet of the primary capture trap through a passivated stainless steel tube, and the port A of the three-way electromagnetic valve is connected to the gas supply and pressure control system through a passivated stainless steel tube.

An online measuring system for the semi-volatile organic compounds in the gas phase is provided in the disclosure. The system comprises a filter head, a three-way electromagnetic valve, an enrichment-thermal desorption device, a two-position six-way valve, a mass flow controller, a gas pump, a gas chromatograph, a primary capture trap, a secondary focus trap, and a gas supply and pressure control system, the inlet of the filter head is connected to be provided with a sampling object, the outlet of the filter head is connected with the port B of the three-way electromagnetic valve through a passivated stainless steel tube, the port C of the three-way electromagnetic valve is connected with the inlet of the primary capture trap through a passivated stainless steel tube, and the port A of the three-way electromagnetic valve is connected to the gas supply and pressure control system through a passivated stainless steel tube.

In order to achieve a system capable of analyzing a wide range of compounds while saving time and energy consumption, a progressive cellular architecture is presented for vapor collection and gas chromatographic separation. Each cell includes a preconcentrator and separation column that are adapted for collecting and separating compounds only within a specific volatility range. A wide volatility range can therefore be covered by the use of multiple cells that are cascaded in the appropriate order. The separation columns within each cell are short enough to reduce the heating and pumping requirements. The gas flow for vapor collection and separation is provided by low-power gas micropumps that use ambient air. The system is also configurable to incorporate capabilities of detecting and reducing vapor overload. The progressive cellular architecture directly address the compromise between low power and broad chemical analyses.

The present invention relates to a method for collecting a sample for sample analysis. The method comprises a system assuming a first configuration and drawing a first portion of the sample into a sample storage portion of the system in the first configuration; the system assuming a second configuration, which is different from the first configuration, and preparing the system in the second configuration to draw a second portion of the sample into the sample storage portion; the system assuming a third configuration and drawing the second portion of the sample into the sample storage portion in the third configuration; and the system assuming an injection configuration, wherein the sample storage portion is fluidly connected to a chromatography column, and supplying the first portion of the sample and the second portion of the sample from the sample storage portion to the chromatography column, while the system is in the injection configuration. The present invention also relates to a corresponding system and a corresponding use.

Presented herein is a ligand-assisted elution chromatography process for the separation of metal ions using a sorbent. In particular, the present invention discloses a process of two sets of column system in combination with two sets of eluting ligand solutions to prepare substantially pure rare earth elements, wherein the first set of column comprises strong acid cation exchange resins and 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 and wherein ligand of said second ligand solution coordinates with said hydrous polyvalent metal oxide.

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.

Methods for focusing analyte peaks in liquid chromatography using a spatial temperature gradient are provided. Also provided are methods for focusing analyte peaks and improving resolution using a trap column upstream of a separation column. Further, methods are provided in which the trap column placed upstream of the separation column is packed with a temperature-sensitive polymer/copolymer, and a spatial temperature gradient is applied along the trap column for obtaining improved retentivity by trap column stationary phase, and overall improved resolution of analyte peaks.

The present invention relates to a device for separating and/or isolating substances in or from a mixture with improved utilization of the capacity of chromatographic media, the device comprising a first chromatography system, a second chromatography matrix downstream of the first chromatography system, and a sensor for detecting the substances present in the fluid. Furthermore, the present invention relates to both the use of said device and a method for separating and/or isolating substances in or from a mixture in a fluid.

The present invention is generally related to the analysis of chemical compositions of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon blends. This method applies specifically to the problem of analyzing extremely complex hydrocarbon-containing mixtures when the number and diversity of molecules makes it impossible to realistically identify and quantify them individually in a reasonable timeframe and cost. The advantage to this method over prior art is the ability to separate and identify chemical constituents and solvent fractions based on their solvent-solubility characteristics, their high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) adsorption and desorption behaviors, and their interactions with stationary phases; and subsequently identify and quantify them at least partially using various combinations of non-destructive HPLC, destructive HPLC, and stand-alone detectors presently not routinely used for HPLC but reconfigured to obtain spectra on the fly. This analytical method is especially useful for, but not limited to, asphalt binders and asphalt binder blends, modified asphalts, asphalt modifiers, asphalt additives, polymer-modified asphalts, asphalts containing rejuvenators and softening agents, asphalts containing recycled products, aged asphalts, and air-blown asphalts, which may contain wide varieties of different types of additives and chemistries, and forensic applications, and environmental pollutant identification.

In an LC/MS/MS analysis: injecting a sample into a passage leading to a column group provided in a liquid chromatograph, the column group including a plurality of columns serially connected to each other and packed with different kinds of packing materials; supplying an eluant to one or a plurality of columns including a column located most downstream, to separate a portion of the target components in the sample in the one or plurality of columns, and sequentially elute those components from the most downstream column to perform mass spectrometry; and supplying a different eluant to one or a plurality of columns including the most downstream column, to separate at least a portion of the target components which stayed uneluted in the one or plurality of columns in the first analysis step, and sequentially elute those components from the most downstream column to perform mass spectrometry.